A day after differences surfaced between INDIA bloc allies the AAP and the Congress over contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, the AAP on Thursday said the Congress has now clarified its stand and the “matter is over”. Senior AAP leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said on Thursday the Congress has “denied its own statement”.
The row had erupted on Wednesday following the remarks of Congress leader Alka Lamba that they (Congress leaders) have been directed by the party leadership to work hard for all seven seats ahead of the 2024 polls. “It’s fine. The matter is over. The Congress has given a clarification and everything is clear now. The spokesperson cannot decide on seat sharing. All parties sit together with their calculations and then such things are decided. Spokespersons make statements,” he said.
AAP Delhi State convener and Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai advised patience in the current circumstances. “The Congress party specified that statements of some of its leaders were individual remarks. I think, some patience is required at present and there will be a way forward by the next meeting (of the INDIA alliance) to be held in Mumbai,” he said.
Congress leaders from Delhi on Wednesday held a meeting with the party’s top leadership to review its preparedness for the Lok Sabha elections and discussed ways to strengthen the organisation.
After the meeting, Lamba had said, “No decision has been taken on whether to have an alliance, but we have been asked to prepare ourselves on all seven seats. We will go to the people after preparing ourselves properly in all seven seats.”