In a development that could be a major setback to the India Bloc as the growing  rift between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has escalated into open hostility thereby putting the alliance on shaky grounds. The AAP on Thursday threatened that it would talk to other parties of the INDIA Bloc to remove the Congress from the alliance, if it didn’t take action against Delhi Congress leader Ajay Maken for making derogatory remarks against party’s supremo Arvind Kejriwal, calling him an ‘anti national’. The AAP leaders now demanded that the Congress take disciplinary action against Maken and other party leaders within 24 hours.

Slamming Congress for having crossed all boundaries, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accompanied by Chief Minister Atishi warned that the AAP has given an ultimatum to its leadership to take immediate action against Maken within 24 hours, failing which AAP will be forced to demand Congress’s expulsion from the INDIA Bloc.

“We will ask the other parties in the alliance to remove the Congress,” Singh said. He further alleged that the Congress’s Delhi unit is working with the BJP to ensure AAP’s defeat in the Delhi polls due early next year. Atishi accused the Congress’s candidates’ list is being prepared by the BJP, and their funding is also being provided by them.

This comes amidst rising tensions and accusations from both sides, further weakening the opposition bloc. The reason for the AAP’s grouse is the Congress’ FIR against Kejriwal on charges of fraud and forgery, accusing him of “misleading and deceiving” the public with promises of non-existent welfare schemes and derogatory remarks by senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Sandeep Dikshit on party’s national convener.

The tension escalated during the Winter session of Parliament when murmurs arose about changing the leadership of the INDIA Bloc, with some including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad suggesting Mamata Banerjee to take over. The INDIA Bloc, comprising parties like the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress (TMC), RJD, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Shiv Sena (UBT), and AAP, face a crucial test of unity. The AAP’s decision to hold talks with its allies could deepen the ongoing crisis.

Singh accused Maken, and Dikshit of targeting AAP instead of focusing on the BJP. Singh slammed Maken for allegedly calling Kejriwal “anti-national” and urged Congress to take action against him within 24 hours. “At this point, all limits have been crossed. Filing an FIR, calling someone anti-national-such audacity from Ajay Maken and his party is unacceptable. I demand that the Congress take action against Ajay Maken within 24 hours. Otherwise, we will appeal to the other constituent parties of the INDIA Bloc  to expel Congress from the alliance,” asserted the AAP Rajya Sabha MP.

Ajay Maken reads the BJP script, makes statements at the BJP’s behest, and targets AAP leaders on BJP’s instructions. And yesterday, he crossed all limits and called our leader Arvind Kejriwal anti-nation,” Singh said.The Congress or Ajay Maken have never called any BJP leader in Delhi “anti-national”, Singh said.

“The audacity Ajay Maken has shown, I demand that the Congress acts against him within 24 hours. Otherwise we will approach the partners in the INDIA Bloc  and seek removal of Congress from the Bloc,” he said.

“We had not said a single word against the Congress during the Haryana election. Yet the Congress seems to be reading out from the BJP’s script. Its candidates’ list looks as if it was finalised at the BJP office,” Singh said. Atishi echoed similar sentiments, stating that Congress is actively undermining AAP. Atishi said the Congress’s actions and words make it clear that it has “tied up” with the BJP for the Delhi election.

The Delhi CM also noted that Congress had filed an FIR against her and Arvind Kejriwal. “Why? Has Congress filed any FIR against any BJP leader ever? We have found through credible sources that Congress candidates’ election expenditure is coming from the BJP. BJP is funding Congress candidates. We have heard that Sandeep Dikshit is getting funded by BJP,” Atishi alleged.

“If Congress thinks we (AAP) are anti-national, then why did they contest Lok Sabha elections in alliance with us? It is clear that Congress leaders have reached some mutual understanding with BJP to defeat AAP and make BJP win in Delhi. If there is no understanding between Congress and BJP, then they should take action against Ajay Maken within 24 hours,” she said.

Earlier in its complaint, the Youth Congress claimed AAP was using “false and deceptive” promises to gain voters’ trust. The Congress also accused the AAP of misappropriating public funds through deceptive advertisements. “AAP leaders, including MLAs and MCD councillors, have been actively collecting sensitive personal information such as voter ID details and phone numbers through an online registration process requiring OTP verification,” the complaint alleged.

Besides this, the Congress has questioned AAP and Kejriwal on two schemes, free treatment and Rs 2,100 per month to women. The schemes were announced in view of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections 2025.

Adding fuel to the fire, several Congress leaders in Delhi have openly targeted AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. Maken accused Kejriwal of corruption and administrative failure and called him an ‘anti national’. “During the pandemic, when people were dying, Arvind Kejriwal spent crores on a luxurious bungalow. Even after 11 years, ration cards have not been issued to thousands of families in Delhi,” Maken said. He also claimed that funds meant for welfare schemes were wasted on advertising campaigns.

Moreover, former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit’s son Sandeep Dikshit also attacked AAP and Kejriwal. Citing the conditions set out by the Supreme Court for his release from prison in the excise policy case, Dikshit said that Kejriwal is unfit for the CM post. He explained that Kejriwal cannot sign files or go to the office, thus, the necessity of appointing Atishi as the CM. Dikshit is contesting against Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi assembly constituency in the upcoming state polls. This contest is not just a political one but is also being seen as a means of settling scores against Kejriwal.