INDIA bloc will sweep Chandigarh mayoral poll, says Raghav Chadha as AAP and Congress forge alliance

New Delhi, January 16

The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said the January 18 Chandigarh mayoral poll which it is contesting in alliance with the Congress will set the tone for the 2024 general election.

Addressing a press conference here, AAP Rajya Sabha member from Punjab Raghav Chadha said the January 18 Chandigarh election “will be decisive”.

“This is the first election of INDIA bloc allies. This is no ordinary election. It will change the destiny, direction and state of Indian politics,” Chadha said.

He said the January 18 poll would lay the foundation for the 2024 general election win of INDIA partners.

“This is the first time INDIA allies will challenge the BJP in a direct fight. And we will win,” he said, adding that the win would not be confined to Chandigarh but would be repeated from “Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Manipur to Mumbai”.

The AAP leader, however, was evasive on the ongoing seat-sharing talks within the INDIA bloc for the Lok Sabha polls.

“There is no need for a ball-to-ball commentary on the seat-sharing talks. In some states we will fight together as part of a strategy and in some others we will fight separately but that too as part of a strategy. We will let you know when something concrete emerges,” Chadha said when asked whether seat divisions had been finalised.

The AAP and Congress are actively engaged in seat-sharing in Delhi.

Chadha said AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had a positive meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge last week, where a range of issues were discussed.

The Congress units in Punjab and Haryana are not in favour of a truck with AAP.