New Delhi, February 11: Following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s announcement of contesting the 2026 state assembly elections independently, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut remarked that Banerjee has always fought elections independently, whether for Lok Sabha or State Assembly.
In a press conference in New Delhi, Raut acknowledged Banerjee’s decision to part ways with the INDIA alliance in the state but emphasized that she should continue to maintain a dialogue with the Congress, as the party is an important member of the alliance. “Mamata Banerjee has always fought independently—be it Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha. Congress is a big part of the INDIA alliance, and she should always continue to have dialogue with Congress,” Raut stated.
Raut also commented on the meeting between Punjab AAP MLAs and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi, following the Delhi elections loss. He called it an internal matter for the AAP to handle and dismissed concerns, saying, “AAP is governing Punjab and the party high command is in Delhi. What’s wrong with calling a party meeting to work on strategies for the betterment of the party? What’s wrong with it?”
On the allegations of horse-trading made by the AAP against the BJP, Raut stated that such issues were common in various states and needed to be carefully examined. “They have just won the elections. The investigations have just begun. Money plays a big role in elections. We have seen it in Maharashtra; it must have happened in Delhi as well,” he said.
Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal, AAP National Convenor, alleged that the BJP was trying to poach AAP candidates, offering them Rs 15 crore each. BJP has denied these allegations. “Some agencies are showing that the ‘Gali Galoch party’ (referring to the BJP) is getting more than 55 seats. In the last two hours, 16 of our candidates have received calls that if they leave AAP and join their party, they will make them ministers and will give Rs. 15 crores to each of them,” Kejriwal claimed.
In response to the allegations, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena‘s principal secretary wrote to the Delhi government Chief Secretary to initiate an ACB inquiry into the bribe allegations involving AAP MLAs.