Indian National Congress says Aam Aadmi Party’s “real face” exposed after Rajya Sabha exits

The Indian National Congress has stepped up its attack on the Aam Aadmi Party following.

The high-profile exit of Raghav Chadha and six other Rajya Sabha MPs, calling the development proof that AAP’s “real face” has been exposed.

Congress sharpens attack

Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken alleged that AAP functions as the “B team” of the Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming the recent defections have raised serious questions about its credibility within the Opposition space.

He also indicated that more exits could follow, particularly in key states like Punjab and Delhi, where both parties have been direct rivals.

Governance and political strategy under fire

Maken criticised AAP’s governance in Punjab, describing it as an example of administrative shortcomings. He also argued that AAP’s expansion into states such as Gujarat and Goa had hurt Congress electorally, citing its weak performance in Gujarat in 2022.

Taking aim at Arvind Kejriwal, Maken said the AAP leader chose to go solo in crucial elections despite broader Opposition coordination efforts, undermining attempts to present a united front against the BJP.

He ruled out any future alliance between the Congress and AAP, saying such a possibility was unlikely “in the near future or even later”.

Opposition dynamics in focus

The Congress is now attempting to reposition itself within the Opposition by questioning AAP’s reliability as a partner. While AAP is not formally part of the INDIA bloc, it has extended issue-based support on certain occasions.

Within the party, there is growing concern that such support has helped AAP gain political legitimacy while weakening Congress’ own standing. Leaders are now projecting AAP as an unreliable ally to influence wider Opposition alignments.

AAP’s proximity to regional leaders like Mamata Banerjee and M K Stalin has further added to Congress’ concerns over shifting political equations ahead of the 2029 general election.

Blow to AAP in Rajya Sabha

The crisis was triggered by the exit of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including Chadha, Harbhajan Singh and Swati Maliwal, who have now joined the BJP. Their departure has significantly reduced AAP’s strength in the Upper House, leaving only a handful of members, including Sanjay Singh, in the Rajya Sabha.

With the number of defectors crossing the two-thirds mark, the anti-defection law is unlikely to apply, making the split legally valid while intensifying the political battle between Congress and AAP.