AAP says no to truck with Cong

New Delhi, January 18

Dubbing the Congress as “toxic”, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today said it would go it alone in the Lok Sabha elections. It would field candidates for all seats in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab.

AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai said the party would launch its campaign in Punjab on January 20 in Barnala where party national convener Arvind Kejriwal would address a rally, questioning the high electricity rates as compared to Delhi.

Taking exception to Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh and Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit’s recent statements, he said the Congress, despite having been decimated in Delhi, continued to be arrogant. 

 He said AAP had opposed Congress policies from day one, yet to ensure the BJP did not return to power, it had been mulling a pact with the Congress. 

“We began to envision a pact after like-minded leaders suggested a larger coalition to get rid of the BJP. But statements by Captain and Sheila Dikshit that the Congress was a national party and didn’t have to bargain with AAP changed everything. Hence, AAP has decided to contest all seats in the three states and the UT,” explained Rai, adding the party would assist “like-minded” parties in putting into shape an anti-BJP alternative at the Centre. — TNS

"In the interest of country, we were ready to drink poison (compromise with Congress) but remarks by their leaders show party remains seeped in arrogance". — Gopal Rai, AAP Delhi Convener