NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Wednesday, expressed their dissatisfaction with the Congress party's decision to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha (LS) polls in Delhi alone. It also hinted that it would exit the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) alliance if such a scenario arises and both parties do not agree to mutual terms. 

Several AAP leaders reacted sharply and argued that there would be no point in having INDIA block if the Congress party decided to go solo in the elections. 

The strong response and veiled threats from AAP and its party members came after Delhi Congress leader Alka Lamba claimed that her party will contest all Lok Sabha seats in Delhi on their strengths. 

AAP chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar formally made a statement that her party's top leadership was disappointed with the Congress' decision.

She told reporters,  "If Congress has made up its mind to fight elections alone in Delhi, there is no point of the INDIA alliance. The final decision to attend the next meeting of the INDIA alliance will be taken by the party's top leadership."

She also said that it was the Congress which approached AAP for allying in Delhi since they do not have an existence in Delhi and that they were very strong in the state on their own. She added that the party's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be soon taking a decision keeping in mind the interest of the country and the people of Delhi.

Other AAP leaders also added to Kakkar's statement and echoed the same stand. Senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti said, "Everyone should realise that we should keep our ambitions aside and think about the country and the Constitution." 

Another leader MLA Vinay Mishra said, "There will be no point of the INDIA alliance if the Congress continues to give statements like this. The Congress needs to make its stand clear," 

Seeing the reaction of AAP after Lamba's claims, Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary clarified that the party's Wednesday meeting was not on alliance formation in Delhi and nothing was discussed about it.

Notably senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi, held a meeting to review their preparedness for the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi amid the AAP's threat to exit the alliance.

Earlier, AAP had shown reluctance to join INDIA unless the Congress made its stand clear on opposing the centre’s ordinance on administrative services in Delhi which was recently passed by the Parliament. They attended the Bengaluru meeting only after Congress confirmed that they would oppose the bill.