'INDIA bloc is strong but ... ': Congress leader Sachin Pilot amid clash with AAP in Delhi polls

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday said that "INDIA bloc is strong" amid reports of rifts within the alliance after the grand old party and the Aam Aadmi Party decided to contest against each other in the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

He, however, added that the opposition alliance would "take a different stand in some of the assembly elections in the states."

"Every party contests an election to win, and I did a press conference in Delhi yesterday where I presented (Congress') guarantees. We have presented our idea and our roadmap (for Delhi), and it is up to people of Delhi to decide," he said.


"Delhi has given several chances to BJP and AAP. Everyone has witnessed the work that was done under Sheila Dikshit, and we are asking for votes on the basis of that. I want to reiterate that INDIA alliance is strong, but we will take a different stand in some of the assembly elections in the states," he added.


This comes a day after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav dismissed rumors of internal conflicts within the opposition bloc, affirming its unity. He had also reaffirmed his party's commitment to supporting regional parties challenging the BJP in their respective strongholds, aligning with the core purpose of the alliance.

The cracks in the anti-BJP alliance have been showing for a while with several regional parties voicing their discontentment with the leadership of the bloc following its poor electoral performance in Haryana and Maharashtra. West Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has expressed her willingness to lead the alliance from Bengal if given responsibility. The Congress party is currently leading the alliance.