Congress has 'more or less said no' for an alliance, says AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal

A day after the United Front announced a pre-poll alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the presence of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has reacted to the speculation on an alliance with Congress for 2019.

Responding to a question on an alliance with the Congress, Arvind Kejriwal said the Rahul Gandhi-led has "more or less ruled out the alliance (with AAP)".

He said, "We are more focused to protect the nation. We are working for the only. They (Congress) has more or less said no for an alliance."

Asked whether the AAP was more eager for an alliance with the Congress, he said the BJP would benefit in a three-cornered contest, while addressing a press briefing in the national capital. 

READ: HUGE: Rahul, Mamata, Naidu, Abdullah, Pawar, Kejriwal Announce National Pre-poll Alliance Against BJP

From the mega rally in Kolkata led by Mamata Banerjee to the AAP rally in Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, the grand alliance led by key Opposition leaders announced to stitch an alliance in a national fight against the BJP, after holding a meeting at Sharad Pawar's residence in Delhi late night. 

The meeting, hosted by NCP president Sharad Pawar at his residence here, also saw Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal coming together for the first time.

READ: Sheila Dikshit Accuses AAP Government Of Making 'false Promises' And 'misleading' Delhi Voters Ahead Of Polls

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on February 14, delivered a split verdict in the case pertaining to the Delhi government's powers to appoint and transfer civil servants, while hearing a batch of petitions by AAP government against Delhi High Court order which had held that the L-G's was the administrative head of the national capital.

A division of bench comprising of justice AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, differed on whether the L-G or Delhi government has control over 'services' which includes transfer and posting of bureaucrats in the national capital.

READ: Setback For Arvind Kejriwal: Supreme Court Divides Powers Between Delhi Govt And L-G, Refers Matter Of 'services' To Larger Bench

(With agency inputs)