The AAP will not tie up with any party in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Sunday, setting the stage for a triangular fight for the 70-seat House around February.
“There will be no alliance in Delhi,” said Kejriwal at a press conference here.
Kejriwal’s decision not to have an alliance comes close to Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav’s announcement of going solo in the elections.
The two parties had entered into a seat-sharing pact for Lok Sabha polls but had failed to win even a single seat out of the seven seats which were won by the BJP.
No alliance between the AAP and the Congress in Assembly elections also means that the final tally of the AAP and the BJP in the polls will depend on the Grand Old Party’s ability to win back its voters who have deserted it and backed Kejriwal’s outfit in the past two elections. The Congress has not been able to win even one seat in the past two elections.
Earlier, Kejriwal hit out at the allegedly deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi, claiming that in the last two to three years the law and order situation has worsened as people are living under constant fear.
He alleged by arresting AAP MLA Naresh Balyan, for suspected links with gangsters, the Central government has sent a signal to gangsters that they can operate fearlessly.
Describing Balyan himself as a victim of crime, Kejriwal said he had also got extortion calls and had given a complaint to police but no action was taken.
“By arresting Balyan, the Central government sent the message that if you complain against gangsters you will be arrested,” he said.
Demanding immediate steps to improve law and order in Delhi, Kejriwal said, “I did not raise the issue earlier, I thought this is not something to do politics on. But now the situation is really bad.”
Kejriwal, who was attacked with a liquid during a march on Saturday by a suspected out-of-job bus marshal, said getting him attacked would not improve law and order in the city.
“Rather than tackling the problem, I am being attacked and our party’s MLAs are being arrested,” said Kejriwal.
He said he was hoping that in his attempts to highlight the law and order problem, Union Home Minister Amit Shah would ask the police to arrest gangsters and rapists but that did not happen.
Indian Army responds firmly to ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along LoC
In the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan has resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC). Over the past two days, Pakistani military posts have been targeting Indian positions with small-arms fire. The Indian Army has given a strong and appropriate response to these provocations, official sources said.
US religious freedom body finds conditions for Pakistan minorities 'worsening', urges strong action
Finding "a worsening religious and political climate of fear, intolerance, and violence" for minorities in Pakistan, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has asked President Donald Trump's administration to take strong measures against the Islamic Republic.
Residences of LeT commanders, Pahalgam attack suspects demolished across Kashmir
Security forces have intensified their crackdown on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives and suspects linked to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on April 22.
India, Pakistan will 'get it figured out,' says Trump on border tensions
US President Donald Trump refused to be drawn into India-Pakistan border tensions in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, stating that the two countries will "get it figured out one way or the other."
CM stresses scientific drain construction to combat flood
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today emphasized the need to construct drains in a scientific manner to quickly drain the water accumulated in the city during heavy rains.
Bangladeshi man, drug smuggler held at Agartala Railway Station
In a significant development, two separate operations at Agartala Railway Station led to the arrest of a Bangladeshi national for illegal entry into India and a local individual involved in attempting to smuggle ganja to Assam.
Suspected Bangladeshi flag on Rickshaw, two detained
Tension flared in the Joynagar area of Agartala on Thursday late night after locals detained two individuals in connection with a rickshaw allegedly bearing the national flag of Bangladesh.
Tripura holds significant position in blood donation: CM Dr Manik Saha
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Friday inaugurated a blood donation camp here at Agartala and said that the government is mulling to open more blood banks in the state to maintain the balance between the demand and supply.