Sena-UBT Slams AAP-Congress Rift for BJP’s Delhi Victory

The internal rift between INDIA bloc partners Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress paved the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) landslide victory in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged.

An editorial in Saamana, the party’s mouthpiece, questioned the purpose of opposition alliances when their members were more focused on fighting each other than challenging the BJP.

In the 70-member Delhi Assembly contest, the BJP swept to power, securing 48 seats, while Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP suffered a crushing defeat, managing only 22. The Congress, continuing its downward spiral, failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive election.

“In Delhi, both AAP and Congress fought to destroy each other, making things easier for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. If this continues, why even form alliances? Just fight to your heart’s content!” the editorial remarked.

Opposition Divisions in Maharashtra and Haryana

The editorial drew parallels between Delhi and Maharashtra, where opposition infighting contributed to the BJP-led coalition’s victory in the 2024 state elections. It warned that unless opposition parties learned from these setbacks, they would only strengthen what it described as the “autocratic rule” of Modi and Shah.

Jammu and Kashmir’s former chief minister Omar Abdullah also took a jab at both AAP and Congress over their failure to unite, sarcastically posting on X, “Aur lado aapas mein!!!” (Keep on fighting among yourselves!).

The piece further highlighted similar opposition disunity in Haryana’s previous assembly elections, questioning whether elements within Congress deliberately sought to weaken Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.

Criticism of Anna Hazare’s Silence on Modi Government

The editorial also criticized veteran activist Anna Hazare for his recent remarks against Arvind Kejriwal, noting that Hazare’s anti-corruption movement once propelled the AAP leader into politics.

Hazare had urged Delhi voters to support candidates with integrity and selflessness. However, Saamana accused him of remaining silent on alleged corruption under the Modi government, including controversies surrounding the Rafale deal and the Hindenburg report on the Adani Group.

“Modi’s so-called ‘Amrit Kaal’ is built on deception and corruption. He has gathered dubious figures and is running the show in Maharashtra and across the country,” the editorial alleged.

‘Just Keep Fighting Among Yourselves!’

The editorial lamented that opposition disunity was eroding democratic values and directly benefiting the BJP. It criticized Congress leaders in Maharashtra for dragging out seat-sharing negotiations, creating an image of internal chaos.