File photo of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Congress is viewing AAP's defeat in Delhi as smoothening of the former's road to power in Punjab whenever the Assembly election takes place, but a section of leaders warn that it would turn into a bumpy stretch if the leadership does not tackle infighting in the state unit.
They also warn against tactical mistakes like installing a Dalit Chief Minister as they did by bringing in Charanjit Singh Channi and removing Amarinder Singh. The general consensus in the party is that the AAP is in trouble, as they face the ire of the Punjab electorate over unkept promises.
Amarinder Singh Warring, Partap Singh Bajwa, Charanjit Singh Channi and other leaders in Punjab would have to bury their differences to capitalise on the difficulties of AAP, which had won 92 out of 117 seats, while decimating Akali Dal.
While Akali Dal has been decimated, the Congress is also looking at whether AAP tries to fill in that space of Panthic politics in Punjab even as BJP is unlikely to benefit much.
Congress leaders believe that the situation for AAP in Punjab is similar to Delhi as people have developed reservations about Mann's governance. Also, Congress sources said, they see a possibility of friction setting in between Mann and Kejriwal, who has also lost his New Delhi seat.
However, a section is warning the leadership against any jubilation as they want to see the Delhi performance in perspective. They cite the vote share at 6.34 per cent as meagre improvement while an ideal would have been at least 9 per cent vote share even if it did not win a seat.
The leaders highlight that the Delhi lesson is important for implementing its strategy in Punjab -- the party cannot be on “auto-pilot mode” and instead it should ensure that the organisation remains robust.
In Delhi, a senior leader said, perception-wise the Congress has got a boost but there is nothing to rejoice in somebody's defeat. “We have to see how we fared and how we can improve. What needs to be done is important. We had an improvement of just 2 per cent rise in vote share,” the leader told DH.
The Delhi experiment by the Congress is also seen as the party’s attempt to send a signal to allies that it would not remain a pushover in states. By fielding Rahul Gandhi to attack Kejriwal, is a deviation from its position of playing second fiddle as one saw in Tamil Nadu or Uttar Pradesh
At the moment, the Congress believes its actions would not trouble the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, even as the Trinamool Congress is spearheading a movement against its leadership role. Congress has signalled that it is ready to fight the Trinamool too.
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Delhi Assembly Election 2025 | The Delhi Assembly Elections saw a fierce contest between AAP and BJP, while Congress despite its best attempts failed to make a mark. The saffron party is all set to make a comeback in the national capital after almost three decades as AAP chief Kejriwal has accepted the people's verdict and looks to be part of a constructive opposition. Reactions from all quarters are pouring in as BJP celebrates its first electoral win in 2025, with Bihar polls slated to take place later this year. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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