On Saturday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released a provocative poster depicting several prominent political figures as “dishonest,” including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sandeep Dikshit, and Ajay Maken. The poster’s bold message also portrayed AAP’s national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, as the only “honest” leader, with the slogan: “Kejriwal’s honesty will prevail over all the dishonest people.” This move has stirred a significant political debate and escalated tensions within the opposition bloc.
Reacting sharply to the poster, Congress leader Alka Lamba criticized Kejriwal, questioning his political integrity. Lamba accused Kejriwal of betraying Congress, which had supported him in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. She recalled how Kejriwal begged Congress for an alliance and argued that this partnership ultimately led to a major loss for the Congress party in Delhi. “If Kejriwal has the courage, he should announce his departure from the INDIA alliance,” she declared. This statement highlights the growing strains between Congress and AAP, as their alliance faces increasing internal challenges.
The poster’s release has also sparked a strong reaction from Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh, who accused AAP of being a proxy for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He stated, “BJP and AAP are two sides of the same coin,” adding that AAP is the “B team” of the BJP. Ramesh referred to the origins of the Anna Hazare movement, suggesting that it was influenced by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), further fueling the narrative that AAP is working in tandem with BJP interests.
The tension between AAP and Congress has only deepened, with both parties increasingly accusing each other of sabotaging the opposition’s unity. This internal rift poses a serious challenge to the INDIA bloc’s ability to present a united front as Delhi approaches its Assembly elections. AAP, meanwhile, is gaining support from regional parties such as Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, while Congress struggles to regain ground. As the political climate intensifies, the impact of these internal conflicts will be closely watched by voters heading to the polls.