Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav on Tuesday described the party’s third consecutive electoral defeat in the assembly elections as “different” from previous losses, highlighting reasons for his optimism despite failing to secure any seats.
Yadav claimed that Congress successfully created a perception of a three-way contest between itself, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), rather than a direct AAP-BJP battle. This, he argued, marked a significant shift compared to previous elections.
He further expressed confidence that the party could reclaim the support of its “core voters,” including Dalits, minorities, and underprivileged communities, who had shifted allegiance to AAP over the past decade.
According to Yadav, these groups historically considered Congress their “first choice,” and the recent election results provided hope for their return.
Acknowledging the party’s continued absence from the Delhi Assembly, Yadav admitted it was a personal and organizational setback. However, he insisted that progress had been made in re-establishing Congress as a viable contender.
He asserted that, with AAP no longer in power, Congress now had a greater opportunity to regain lost ground and rebuild its voter base.
The Delhi election results also reignited questions about the unity of the opposition INDIA bloc. Differences surfaced when allies like the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Samajwadi Party (SP) chose to back AAP instead of Congress.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav defended his party’s decision, stating that AAP was in the best position to challenge the BJP in Delhi. He also emphasized the need for regional parties to take the lead in states where they have a stronger presence.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar clarified that the INDIA bloc was primarily formed to contest national elections, rather than state-level battles.
Their statements further fueled speculation about the alliance’s internal dynamics and long-term viability.
Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal weighed in on the situation, urging INDIA bloc leaders to come together and resolve their differences.
Addressing a press conference, Sibal acknowledged that friction among alliance partners was inevitable but stressed the need for collaboration.
He pointed out that similar tensions arose in Bihar’s last election when Congress performed poorly despite being allotted seats by the RJD. He emphasized that all alliance members must collectively decide on strategies for future elections to effectively challenge the BJP.
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