AAP severs ties with Congress, to contest Gujarat elections independently

Aam Aadmi Get together (AAP) nationwide convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday (July 3, 2025) declared that his get together has ended its affiliation with the Congress, accusing the latter of not directly aiding the ruling Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) in Gujarat.

Mr. Kejriwal, addressing the media in Ahmedabad, mentioned the opposition’s Indian Nationwide Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc was conceived completely for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and now not binds AAP to the Congress.

“AAP will contest the 2027 Gujarat Meeting elections independently and can win. We are going to present the individuals with an actual different to each the BJP and the Congress,” the previous Delhi Chief Minister mentioned.

Referring to the current Visavadar by-election in Junagadh district, Mr. Kejriwal questioned the Congress’s intent. “We’ve no alliance with Congress. If there was one, why did they discipline a candidate in Visavadar in the course of the bypoll? They had been despatched by the BJP to chop our votes. After they failed, the BJP even scolded them,” he remarked.

AAP candidate Gopal Italia gained the Visavadar seat, defeating BJP’s Kirit Patel by over 17,000 votes. The Congress candidate, Nitin Ranpariya, completed a distant third with 5,501 votes.

Mr. Kejriwal alleged that the BJP’s uninterrupted three-decade rule in Gujarat had resulted in dissatisfaction throughout a number of sections of society, together with farmers, youth, and the center class. “Regardless of rising unemployment and over half of presidency posts mendacity vacant, employment is basically being provided on a contractual foundation,” he mentioned.

He added that the Congress had “failed as an opposition” and accused the get together of performing in live performance with the BJP. “Individuals usually say they wish to defeat the BJP however don’t know who to vote for. Everybody is aware of Congress is in BJP’s pocket,” he alleged.

Projecting AAP as a reputable different, Mr. Kejriwal termed the Visavadar outcome “a turning level in Gujarat politics”. “Individuals have began inserting their hopes in AAP,” he mentioned.

He additionally introduced the launch of the Gujarat Jodo Abhiyan, a two-and-a-half-year marketing campaign to strengthen grassroots assist forward of the 2027 elections. The marketing campaign will embrace door-to-door outreach, and residents might be inspired to affix AAP via a missed name mechanism. “We’re a youth-driven get together. I urge younger Gujaratis who desire a corruption-free State to affix us,” he mentioned.

The BJP at present holds 162 seats within the 182-member Gujarat Meeting. The Congress has 12, whereas AAP holds 5. The remaining seats are occupied by the Samajwadi Get together and Unbiased legislators.