The rift between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) widened on Tuesday after AAP accused its former INDIA bloc ally of working in "jugalbandi" (collaboration) with the BJP.
The fresh war of words was triggered by the Congress' protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, where Delhi Police detained Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several senior Congress leaders.
The Congress protest came amid a massive gathering of youth at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in support of the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) agitation over alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities.
Questioning how Congress leaders were able to reach the Prime Minister's residence while student protesters allegedly faced police action while marching towards Parliament a day earlier, AAP leaders accused the Congress of working in tandem with the BJP.
"During the march towards Parliament, the police did not allow the youth to move even 100 metres ahead, but Rahul Gandhi was allowed to reach directly outside the Prime Minister's residence. This proves that the BJP and the Congress are working together," alleged Atishi, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly.
She further claimed that the "double standards of the Delhi Police and the media" had exposed that the BJP and Congress were "two sides of the same coin."
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj also accused the BJP and Congress of attempting to weaken a movement that, according to him, belongs entirely to the youth.
"These young people are the real stakeholders of this country, and the government wants to suppress them because they are beyond its control. Today, the understanding between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi stands exposed before the entire country," he alleged.
Congress hits back
The Congress strongly rejected AAP's allegations. Congress Seva Dal chief organiser Srinivas B.V. accused AAP of having its own understanding with the BJP.
"You must be very pained. We can understand. Your ongoing duet with the BJP has failed, is that why?" Srinivas wrote on X.
He also alleged that AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh maintained close ties with BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya and newly inducted BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, a former AAP leader.
The public spat between the Congress and AAP, who are also principal rivals in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, has further exposed the widening cracks among Opposition parties outside the NDA.
CJP's growing popularity
Another major factor behind the political tensions is the growing popularity of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), reflected in the steadily increasing crowds at its Jantar Mantar protest.
Led by former AAP member Abhijeet Dipke, who has repeatedly denied any links with the party, CJP has evolved from a satirical social media movement into a youth-led campaign demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged examination paper leaks and reforms in the education system.
Since emerging from social media into a nationwide protest movement, CJP has received support from leaders across several political parties. However, the Congress has largely maintained a cautious distance.
Before activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike became the focal point of the movement, AAP was among the first political parties to openly support the protests, alongside Left parties. It was later joined by the Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party (SP), Trinamool Congress and others.
While the Congress eventually expressed support for the movement, its statements focused primarily on Sonam Wangchuk rather than the larger student protests.
"Shri Sonam Wangchuk has now been on a hunger strike for 19 days, demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister. The Indian National Congress has been making this very demand for over a month and a half," Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal had said in a post last week.
