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The political landscape of Delhi is abuzz with whispers of a brewing storm within the ruling alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress party.
The catalyst for this simmering tension is the alleged assault on Swati Maliwal, the chief of the Delhi Commission for Women, by a drunk driver, and the subsequent response from the AAP leadership.
While AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has maintained a conspicuous silence on the matter, the Congress party, bound by the constraints of coalition 'maryada' (decorum), has been forced to tread carefully, despite private calls for action.
Top sources within the Congress have revealed that they have conveyed their concerns to the AAP leadership, urging them to take more decisive action and avoid providing ammunition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections on May 25.
The Congress is particularly wary of being perceived as taking sides against Maliwal, especially given its own recent struggles with allegations of not adequately supporting women who have faced harassment within the party.
The dilemma for the Congress is multifaceted. As an alliance partner, it must balance the need to maintain unity with the imperative to uphold its own principles and values.
Furthermore, the party is acutely aware that any perceived inaction on the Maliwal issue could further erode its credibility among voters who may view it as a sign of weakness or indifference towards women's rights.
The Congress's discomfort is compounded by the fact that many AAP leaders have taken to social media to criticize Maliwal and portray her as a stooge of the BJP.
While some within the Congress are monitoring the situation closely to see if Maliwal will ultimately join the BJP, the party is keen to avoid being seen as dismissive of her allegations, especially on the eve of the elections.
For now, the uneasy alliance between the AAP and the Congress continues to navigate this delicate situation, with both parties grappling with the competing demands of coalition loyalty and the need to respond to public sentiment.