New Delhi: The Congress party retaliated against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s assertion that the Congress had become a thing of the past in Punjab and Delhi. Congress leader Pawan Khera countered Mann’s remarks by drawing a parallel between the ideologies of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing both of aiming for a “Congress-mukt Bharat” (Congress-free India).
Taking a sarcastic dig at Mann, Khera remarked, “By the way, the name of a Bhojpuri picture is ‘Ek Tha Joker.’ You must have seen it?”
The exchange followed Mann’s earlier statement suggesting that the Congress was history in Punjab and Delhi. Some Punjab Congress leaders, including Partap Singh Bajwa, expressed hesitancy towards an alliance with the AAP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
When questioned about the reported reluctance of state Congress leaders for an alliance with AAP, Mann quipped, “In Punjab and Delhi, mothers can tell the world’s shortest story to their children – Ek Thi Cong (there was once a Congress).”
In a separate development, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outlined the party’s ambitious vision to expand its organizational presence across the entire country. Kejriwal declared that AAP would vigorously campaign for elections as part of the INDIA bloc.
“AAP will form its organization in the entire country because, without a strong organization, it cannot win elections,” stated Kejriwal during a virtual meeting of the National Council and National Executive of the Aam Aadmi Party.
“AAP is part of the INDIA bloc; we will contest elections strongly on whatever seats we get and will win all the seats,” he added.
