Rahul Firm on No Cong Support to AAP in Case of Hung House

Rahul tells party leadership that he would not subject himself to "ridicule" by extending support to AAP after accusing them of corruption

- RASHEED KIDWAI

The Congress in Delhi assembly polls has reportedly decided not to support the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Admi Party, should the February 8 verdict throw up a hung House in the national capital.

Informed party sources said former party president and senior leader Rahul Gandhi sought a firm commitment of his hands-off policy towards AAP before launching his electoral campaign. Rahul is said to have conveyed to both the central and state party leadership that in the post-polls scenario, he would not subject himself to "ridicule" by extending support to AAP after accusing them of corruption, misgovernance and involvement in an alleged liquor scam.

In 2013, the Congress was instrumental in crowning Arvind Kejriwal as chief minister of Delhi when the grand old party had won eight seats and extended outside support to newly formed AAP which had gained 28 assembly seats. In the subsequent assembly polls of 2015 and 2020, the Congress drew a blank.

The grand old party is fighting the ongoing Delhi polls in a complete disarray both in terms of poll strategy, campaign style and party's long-term objectives as a national level party. In this context, Rahul's "hands-off" policy towards AAP comes as a belated attempt to find some foothold in Delhi polls.