Warring still says no infighting, blames AAP-BJP collusion for loss

Time of India

4 days ago

Chandigarh: Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring dismissed talk of about rifts in the party's state unit and claimed that the party lost the Ludhiana West bypoll due to a covert understanding between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Warring said the two parties joined hands as both feared the growing influence of the Congress in Punjab and Gujarat. "Congress did not lose due to internal conflict; we lost because AAP and BJP collaborated against us," he said, suggesting that BJP transferred a significant portion of its vote share to the AAP candidate.
He said the BJP, in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, had secured 41% vote in Ludhiana West, but this dropped to 22% in the bypoll.
"In contrast, AAP's share rose from 20% to 39%. The Congress vote share remained steady—28% in 2024 and 27% in the byelection," hje said.
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Warring said BJP deliberately delayed the announcement of its candidate and did not campaign seriously. "Moreover, the close ties between a senior BJP leader from Punjab and a senior AAP leader are well known," he said, without naming anyone.
He said BJP was backing AAP in Gujarat to weaken the Congress there.
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Referring to the Visavadar assembly constituency, he said BJP fielded a political newcomer against AAP, helping it capture the opposition space traditionally held by the Congress.
Responding to reports of infighting, he said, "Let me reaffirm and reiterate that the Congress remains united. A difference of opinion does not mean division."
He said senior leaders, including former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, campaigned tirelessly in Ludhiana West. Warring added he himself was present from the day of nominations but, as the party's state president, he had to fulfil other responsibilities assigned by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), such as conducting 'Save Constitution' meetings and engaging with grassroots workers. Alleging media bias, Warring questioned why similar scrutiny was not directed at AAP.
"Why hasn't the media asked why chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal were absent in the crucial final days of campaigning or why they skipped the party's final roadshow?" he asked.