After Haryana debacle, AAP firm on going it alone in Delhi

After suffering a setback in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has reaffirmed its decision to contest the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections independently.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said, "We will contest alone in Delhi. We are capable of doing it. We will put forward our work and will work hard."

Her statement comes amid speculation about possible alliances for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled in February, where the party is expected to face a stiff competition from both the BJP and the Congress.

The announcement will hit the Congress hard as it has not had an MLA in the Delhi Legislative Assembly since 2013.

In Haryana, the AAP had demanded 10 seats, however, the Congress was adamant on offering only seven seats. The talks did not materialise and both parties suffered a setback, with the AAP scoring a blank.

The AAP has been at the helm in Delhi since 2015, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, and is now gearing up for its third consecutive term in the Capital.

However, the political environment in Delhi has grown more competitive, with the BJP's consistent focus on expanding its influence in the city and the Congress looking to revive its position after being sidelined in the recent elections.

While the AAP has maintained its hold on Delhi politics for nearly a decade, the upcoming elections present new challenges. The ongoing tensions between the AAP and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena have added a layer of complexity to the city’s governance, with frequent clashes over administrative authority and public policy.

The saffron party is expected to make a strong pitch for change, banking on its Central government influence and recent gains in other states.

The Congress, though largely marginalised, could play the role of a spoiler if it manages to improve its vote share, especially in areas where anti-incumbency is growing.