New DelhiAug 7, 2025 07:42 IST
First published on: Aug 7, 2025 at 07:41 IST
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While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has walked out of the INDIA bloc, the party’s national general secretary and MP Sandeep Pathak participated in the Opposition alliance’s joint press conference in Delhi Wednesday to sharpen their demand for a discussion in Parliament on the Election Commission (EC)’s ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh spoke to The Indian Express on the party’s position on the SIR exercise and its ties with the INDIA bloc, among other issues. Excerpts:
IE: Is Sandeep Pathak’s participation in the Opposition’s joint press conference a sign that the AAP is back in the INDIA bloc?
Sanjay Singh: We have clarified repeatedly that the AAP is not a part of the INDIA bloc and our position remains the same. We only offered support to the Opposition over the SIR, which is an attempt to kill democracy in India.
IE: Going forward, are there other issues on which the AAP may align with the Opposition?
Sanjay Singh: Only time will tell. If there are similar issues of national importance which emerge in the future, we will take a call at the time over extending support to the Opposition.
IE: The government has accused the Opposition of “deliberately disrupting” proceedings over the SIR despite being aware that it is not within Parliament’s ambit to discuss it…
Sanjay Singh: The SIR is a matter of grave importance. More than 65 lakh voters have been deleted from Bihar’s electoral rolls… It is an attempt to stifle the democratic set-up of the country. Why should the Opposition step back from its duty of calling for a discussion on it?
IE: Are there other plans to ensure that the SIR issue is taken up in Parliament?
Sanjay Singh: We will take it to the people. There is no other way. We will tell the people how their votes are being robbed by a particular party and make them aware of the BJP’s intent as well as the consequences of lakhs of voters being disenfranchised.
IE: Will the AAP rely on the SIR issue in Bihar, where the party is planning to contest the upcoming Assembly polls?
Sanjay Singh: The SIR will certainly be a core issue around which the party’s Bihar campaign will revolve just like how we have made quality of education a part of our campaign in Uttar Pradesh. Both the campaigns are on the right track and are doing well.