BJP's Praveen Khandelwal slams INDIA alliance, says it's "exposed"

New Delhi [India], January 15 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party MP Praveen Khandelwal slammed the INDIA alliance on Wednesday and said it has been "exposed."
"Arvind Kejriwal criticised Rahul Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi blamed Kejriwal. What is this alliance of? On one hand, they fight together, while on the other hand, they play blame game in the entire country... The reality of this alliance has been exposed in front of the people," Khandelwal said.
Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that AAP is stronger than the Congress in Delhi so his party has decided to stand with AAP.
Speaking to ANI, Akhilesh Yadav said, "The regional party fighting against the BJP should be supported by the leaders of the INDIA alliance. AAP and Congress are fighting against each other in Delhi. AAP is strong and we have decided to stand with them. The question is about Delhi and our goal is that the BJP gets defeated. Congress and AAP have the same goal too."
Akhilesh Yadav's statement further raised questions about the divide in the alliance. However, he clarified that the INDIA alliance is intact.
"The INDIA alliance is intact. I remember when the INDIA alliance was formed, it was decided that wherever a regional party was strong, the alliance would extend support to them," he said.
Earlier, Communist Party of India General Secretary D Raja admitted that the INDIA bloc "stands divided" post-Lok Sabha election 2024.
Speaking to ANI, Raja said, "It is a fact that Opposition is divided. It is known to people that in Delhi. Assembly election AAP is contesting on its own, Congress is contesting on its own, Left parties are contesting wherever they are capable of putting up a fight and among other parties, certain parties have declared support to AAP. So, it is a fact that INDIA bloc stands divided."
Several BJP leaders have also claimed that the INDIA bloc has 'no mission' and is 'scattered.'
The Delhi assembly polls will be held in a single phase on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already announced its candidates for all 70 assembly seats. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its candidates for 59 seats.
The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.
The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got only eight seats. (ANI)