AAP vs. Congress: Allies turn foes, Sena-UBT blames infighting for Delhi debacle

The rift between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress played a crucial role in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) decisive victory in the 2025 Delhi assembly elections, according to Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. In an editorial, the Sena’s mouthpiece, Saamana, questioned the need for opposition alliances when party members fight amongst themselves, rather than uniting against the BJP.

The BJP emerged victorious in Delhi, clinching 48 out of 70 assembly seats. AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, faced a crushing defeat, securing only 22 seats. Congress, on the other hand, failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive time in Delhi’s assembly elections.

Saamana criticized both AAP and Congress for their internal battles, making it easier for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to gain ground. The editorial read, “In Delhi, both AAP and Congress fought to destroy each other. If this continues, why even form alliances? Just fight among yourselves!” During the election campaign, both parties exchanged several barbed comments, deepening their division.

The editorial also highlighted setbacks for opposition parties in Maharashtra and Haryana. In Maharashtra, the BJP-led coalition secured a win in the 2024 state assembly elections. The Marathi daily warned that if opposition parties did not learn from these results, it would only strengthen what it called Modi and Shah’s “autocratic rule.”

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah joined in, mocking both Congress and AAP for their disunity. He posted, “Aur lado aapas mein!!!” (Keep on fighting each other), referring to their ongoing conflict.

The editorial drew comparisons with Haryana’s assembly elections the previous year, which the BJP also won. It speculated whether internal elements in Congress deliberately undermined Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, contributing to their loss.

Saamana also criticized Anna Hazare, a veteran social activist who once inspired Arvind Kejriwal’s rise in politics. Hazare had recently urged Delhi voters to choose candidates with integrity and the ability to sacrifice for the country. Saamana pointed out that Hazare had remained silent about alleged corruption under the Modi government, including the controversial Rafale deal and the Hindenburg report on the Adani Group.

The editorial claimed that Hazare’s remarks overlooked Modi’s so-called “Amritkal,” which the piece described as built on “deceit and corruption.” It accused the prime minister of bringing together questionable individuals to run the show both in Maharashtra and across the country.

The loss in Delhi, Saamana argued, impacted the democratic processes in India. The editorial mentioned that in Maharashtra, Congress’s delayed seat-sharing talks had created chaos, further benefiting the BJP. The disunity among opposition parties in Delhi and Maharashtra, it claimed, directly helped the saffron camp gain an upper hand.

In a sarcastic tone, the editorial concluded, “If this is how things are going to be, there is no need to form alliances at all. Just keep fighting among yourselves! If no one learns from the Delhi elections, they will only help autocracy rise to power.”