Tensions between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab have escalated following the arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. The divisions within the state have now spilled over to the national level, with Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge expressing his disapproval of the arrest and affirming the party’s stance against injustice.
Kharge’s statement threatens to deepen the cracks in the INDIA alliance, a coalition formed with the aim of projecting a united Opposition and challenging the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The day began with the arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who has been a vocal opponent of any alliance between the Congress and the AAP. He was arrested in connection with a 2015 case related to drug smuggling and money laundering. Khaira accused the ruling AAP party in Punjab, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, of being “thirsty for blood” and expressed concerns for his safety.
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh defended the arrest, stating that new evidence had emerged in the case and emphasizing that the law applies to everyone regardless of their political affiliation.
Reacting to the arrest, Mallikarjun Kharge, when asked about the situation, stated that he was yet to receive detailed information as he had traveled directly from Bengaluru to Chattisgarh. However, he made it clear that the Congress would not tolerate injustice, asserting that those who commit injustice do not thrive for long.
While the Congress and AAP have attempted to present a united front at the national level, their actions in Punjab tell a different story. The arrest of Sukhpal Singh Khaira has been labeled by the Congress as an attempt to intimidate the opposition, with Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring expressing strong support for Khaira.
The Congress’ state unit held a meeting to discuss the “vindictive” arrest and sought the intervention of Governor Banwarilal Purohit.
The AAP, on the other hand, has been critical of the Congress in Punjab and emphasized that it would not form an alliance with a party that is discredited in the state. This ongoing tension in Punjab has complicated seat-sharing discussions between the parties in the INDIA alliance.
The unity of the INDIA alliance had faced challenges earlier when the AAP initially expressed reluctance to participate in gatherings that included the Congress due to differences over the control of administrative services in Delhi. Although that issue was resolved, seat-sharing in states like Punjab, Delhi, and Gujarat remains a complex task for the alliance.
The differences within the alliance may impact its ability to effectively challenge the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. States like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, where seat-sharing discussions are expected to be challenging, play a crucial role in determining the overall success of the alliance, given their significant number of parliamentary seats.