Another blow to Kejriwal: After Delhi, Congress also dumps AAP in Punjab; CM Amarinder Singh says, "Cong doesn't need any alliance"

In another setback to the Aam Aadmi Party, the party has been snubbed by Punjab Congress. This comes after Delhi Congress' refusal to join hands with the party. 

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has categorically denied any alliance talks with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or any other party, for the May 19 Lok Sabha elections in the state. The Punjab chief minister said that the party in the state did not need any allies in the state.

"The Congress did not need any alliance in Punjab, nor was it in talks with any party on the same," Captain Amarinder said.

Capt Amarinder Singh also said that Congress was "gung-ho about these polls."

Regarding the candidates for the Lok Sabha polls for the party, Captain Amarinder said that the next meeting was likely to be held in Delhi around the end of this week for the purpose. 

Asked to comment on the time lag in the polling date for Punjab, Captain Amarinder said it was the Election Commission’s prerogative and he could not, therefore, say anything on the issue.

Captain Amarinder also clarified that former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was never in reckoning for candidature as he had made it clear that he was not interested in contesting elections. He described his meeting with Dr. Singh in Delhi on Saturday as a courtesy call, during which he briefed the former Prime Minister on the Congress plans in Punjab.

Asked about the party’s star campaigner in the state, the Chief Minister said it was up to the Congress high command to decide the names of the key campaigners for the party in these elections.

In Delhi, amid the ongoing speculations over alliance with AAP in for 2019 polls, Sheila Dikshit had cleared the air saying that the Congress party's Delhi leadership has unanimously decided against the gathbandhan with AAP.  The decision was taken by the party leaders after the meeting with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. Addressing the media following meeting, former Delhi CM Sheila Dixit said, 

"In the meeting we have unanimously decided against gathbandhan with the Aam Aadmi Party. The decision was taken before Rahul Gandhi so it is final. There is no alliance."