Akhilesh Yadav to Join Arvind Kejriwal for High-Profile Roadshow Ahead of Delhi Polls on Jan 30

NEW DELHI, JAN29, 2025: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, along with party MPs, will actively campaign for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections on February 5, according to a statement from the Arvind Kejriwal-led party on Tuesday. Yadav will join Kejriwal for a roadshow in Rithala on January 30, marking a significant collaboration between the two parties. Several other MPs from the Uttar Pradesh-based SP, including Iqra Hasan from Kairana, will also be campaigning for the AAP.

The Samajwadi Party and AAP are allies within the INDIA bloc, which also includes Congress. However, SP leaders will be solely campaigning for the AAP in Delhi, which is competing against both Congress and BJP in the state elections. This move indicates further distancing of the Congress from the broader opposition alliance, especially after the Lok Sabha elections last year.

The AAP and Congress, which hold four and three of Delhi’s seven Lok Sabha seats respectively, had fought together against the BJP during the 2024 general elections. However, the two parties find themselves at odds in the Delhi Assembly race. Tensions within the INDIA alliance emerged last year when several member parties expressed support for Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister, to lead the bloc, a position currently held by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The divergence reflects the growing rift within the opposition coalition, which had initially come together to challenge the BJP’s dominance.

Despite the discord, Arvind Kejriwal has refrained from publicly backing Mamata Banerjee’s leadership of the INDIA alliance. While he has not endorsed her candidacy, Kejriwal has indicated that the leaders of the opposition bloc can make a decision on leadership after open discussions.

The ongoing developments showcase the fluid dynamics within the opposition parties, especially as they navigate the complexities of regional elections and their broader alliance strategies. As Delhi heads to the polls, these shifts in alliances and rivalries will likely play a significant role in shaping the political landscape of the capital.