Kharge, Kejriwal Talk Seats; Internet Can’t Wrap Its Head Around Congress Chief’s 'Muffler Man' Avatar

From seat-sharing to chai-biscuit, and now the famed muffler — a lot seems to be happening in the Congress-AAP sync as part of the INDIA bloc. Or so it appears, if one goes by how their leaders have been dressing lately.

One meeting in particular has sparked some serious sartorial/political humour. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge appeared with a muffler protecting his ears from the cold as he shook hands with the original ‘Muffler Man’, AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal.

Even though the muffler seemed to have shifted from one leader to the other, the poor thing could not escape some biting jokes. Note, however, that when we call the muffler a poor thing here, it is not supposed to be literal. After all, it carried the Louis Vuitton logo all over though it was not clarified by either party, nor by the mirth makers, if it was an original or a knockoff.

In the past, however, Kejriwal has insisted that he ditched the muffler a long time ago. He used to have a chronic cough during Delhi’s biting cold for years, and would consistently protect his ears and head with a thick muffler, much like the working-class does every day.

In fact, in 2019, he replied to a social media post saying: “I had taken the muffler off a long time back. You didn’t notice. It is very cold. You all take care.”

The AAP even turned it into political capital in the Delhi elections, highlighting how their leader is just another aam aadmi complete with baggy pants, maroon and blue sweaters with a hole here and there and, of course, the muffler. The slogan ‘Muffler Man Returns’ was quite a thing after Kejriwal became CM a second time, having resigned after a 49-day debut stint. That stint was in partnership with the Congress, which ended in a huff as, lacking full majority, the AAP could not push its marquee anti-corruption legislation.

Not to forget though that the meeting was not just about that one piece of clothing that caught many people’s attention. It carried significant political weight as the Congress and AAP are moving quickly now on deciding the contours of their partnership for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as part of the larger INDIA bloc.

Delhi and Punjab, both states where the AAP is in power, remain key points of interest; particularly Punjab, where the Congress is the main opposition party locked in a constant grappling with the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government. In Delhi, too, where the Congress may not have much political capital in terms of seats as of now, it continues to have an “anti-AAP” stance at the local level.