Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Monday alleged that a “deal has already been struck between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)” following a lower court’s decision to **discharge **Arvind Kejriwal and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case. The remarks came after the court ruled that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence, prompting widespread political reactions.
Baghel, speaking to news agency ANI, said the verdict would not only spark infighting within the AAP but also indicated a political arrangement between the BJP and AAP ahead of key state elections. He claimed that the acquittal which came just days after Kejriwal and Sisodia were discharged “bore fruit” of a behind-the-scenes understanding, and predicted that the two parties would support each other in states such as Punjab, Gujarat and Goa.
According to Baghel, the BJP-AAP “collusion” would now have two consequences: first, internal turmoil within the AAP leadership, and second, an effort by the party to suppress figures like Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann who might challenge the leadership’s direction.
The court’s discharge of Kejriwal and Sisodia in the high-profile excise policy case last week triggered sharp political commentary across the spectrum. While the AAP hailed the decision as a vindication of its leadership and an affirmation that the charges lacked merit, critics accused the BJP of using investigative agencies for political ends.
AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, have called the verdict a “historic” victory and a “tight slap” on attempts to politically weaken the party. They maintained that the case was part of a broader effort to target AAP ahead of elections.
The BJP has yet to comment directly on Baghel’s allegation of a deal with the AAP, but party spokespeople have previously defended the use of legal agencies as independent and have criticised the opposition’s claims of collusion.
The controversy reflects intensifying political battles in India as the 2026 state elections approach and legal outcomes intersect with partisan narratives.
