Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said Tuesday that Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee had always run "independently," whether in the State Assembly or the Lok Sabha, in response to Banerjee's announcement that she will run alone in the 2026 state assembly elections.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) MP stated at a news conference in the nation's capital that Banerjee should maintain "dialogue" with the Congress, which is a significant component of the alliance, even though she has decided to sever ties with the INDIA bloc in the state.
"Mamata Banerjee has consistently fought on her own, whether in the Vidhan Sabha or the Lok Sabha. She should always maintain communication with Congress, which is a significant component of the INDIA coalition," Raut stated.
Regarding the meeting between Punjab AAP MLAs and party leader Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi after the party's defeat in the just finished Delhi elections, Raut stated that the AAP should manage the situation internally.
Punjab is governed by the AAP, while Delhi is home to the party's high command. What's wrong with holding a party meeting to discuss ways to improve the party? What's the matter? It's an internal issue for their party," he continued.
Regarding the Anti-Corruption Bureau's (ACB) probe into the AAP's claims of horse-trading against the BJP, Raut said that similar problems have existed in other states and need to be carefully looked at.
"The elections were recently won by them. The investigations are only getting started. Elections are heavily influenced by money. It must have occurred in Delhi as well, as we have witnessed in Maharashtra," Raut said.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said earlier on Thursday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is attempting to steal AAP candidates by giving them Rs 15 crore apiece. The BJP has strongly refuted the accusations.
The 'Gali Galoch party' (the BJP) is receiving more than 55 seats, according to certain agencies. 16 of our candidates have got calls in the past two hours promising them ministerial positions and Rs. 15 crores each if they defect from the AAP and join their party, Kejriwal stated.
In the meantime, the principal secretary of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has written to the Delhi government's chief secretary requesting that an ACB investigation be carried out into claims of bribery given to Aam Aadmi Party MLAs.
