Ahead of the meeting of the Opposition bloc India (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) in Mumbai, one of the constituent of the 26 party coalitions Aam Admi Party (AAP) has thrown its hat in the ring to announce that party’s convenor Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is a strong contender for the Prime Ministerial candidate post.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar stirred the pot by expressing her desire for Kejriwal to be the prime ministerial candidate for the alliance. Kakkar praised Kejriwal for his vocal stance on various issues, positioning him as a strong contender against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But party colleagues Atishi who is also a Minister in Delhi Government and Sanjay Singh, the Rajya Sabha MP quickly pitched in to deny that the Delhi Chief Minister had no such aspirations. Atishi said Kejriwal is not in the race for the Prime Pinister’s post.  Sanjay Singh concurred with Atishi and said Kejriwal had joined the INDIA bloc to save the country. “Arvind Kejriwal’s aim, objective and intention to join the INDIA alliance is to save this country. His aim is not to become the PM. He is not in the race to become PM,” Singh asserted. Meanwhile in Mumbai Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said the opposition India bloc has several choices to project as the PM candidate, while the BJP has only one.  “The question about choice for the prime minister’s post should be asked to the BJP, which has only one choice that we have seen for the last nine years.

India alliance has several choices for the PM post. What choices does the BJP have?” Thackeray said in response to a question on PM aspirations amongst the alliance partners.

Kakkar highlighted the achievements of the AAP-led Delhi government, including free essential services, even in the face of inflation.

When asked who should be the leader of the INDIA grouping, Kakkar said, “If you ask me as a party spokesperson, I will put forward the name of Arvind Kejriwal. He has consistently raised issues of the people, has given a model due to which inflation is the lowest in Delhi.” “A model in which the tax collected from the public have been spent on public and despite all these welfare schemes he has presented a profitable budget.

But this decision (to select the leader of INDIA) is not on me,” she added. Kakkar’s statement has evoked mixed reactions with some welcomed support for Kejriwal, while others have criticized her for creating unnecessary discord within the alliance. It remains to be seen whether Kejriwal will be the alliance’s choice for PM, but Kakkar’s statement has certainly put the issue on the table.

The statement comes ahead of the scheduled two-day meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc in Mumbai where hectic parleys are expected to take place to announce a coordination committee and a logo for the alliance. Kakkar also took a swipe at the BJP-led central government over its decision to slash prices of cooking by ?200, saying the fuel prices would also come down after the third meeting of opposition INDIA bloc. “LPG rates were reduced by ?200 after Patna and Bengaluru meetings (of INDIA alliance). I am sure that petrol and diesel rates will come down after the Mumbai meeting,” she said.

Delhi convener and Environment Minister Gopal Rai was asked about it, he said that every member of the AAP wants Kejriwal for the prime minister’s post but a decision on it would only be finalised by all the members of the INDIA bloc.”Every party wants their leader to become prime minister.

AAP members also want their national convener to become PM. All members of the INDIA alliance will sit down and whatever the decision is, we will go accordingly,” he said. When asked whether the AAP will propose Kejriwal’s name as a prime ministerial candidate, he said, “There is nothing like giving a name. We are already its part and Arvind Kejriwal is a part of the bloc.” Atishi, however, said Kejriwal is not in the race for the prime minister’s post. 

Responding to a question on Kakkar’s comments, the Delhi cabinet minister said, “I am making it official that Arvind Kejriwal is not in the race to become the prime minister of the country.”

“He has joined the India bloc to save the Constitution, democracy and the country,” she said, while stating that Kakkar’s views were personal. Two meetings of the 26 party INDIA block have taken place. During the second meeting in Karnataka, the block was officially named ‘INDIA.’  The third alliance meeting is scheduled to occur in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1. AAP has confirmed its participation in this upcoming meeting. Leaders of the opposition bloc would chalk out a joint campaign strategy to take on the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and iron out the differences among themselves.

The leaders are also likely to announce a few panels to draft a common minimum programme of the alliance, to frame joint plans for holding agitations across the country and for seat sharing.

Last year, the then Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia had also pitched for Kejriwal as prime minister. “‘Ek Mauka Kejriwal Ko’ (One chance to Kejriwal) has become a national level talk, Sisodia had said in an interview. “People see Kejriwal as an alternative to (Narendra) Modi in 2024 because he talks about health, education and employment,” he had said.