Chandigarh, Jan. 8 -- The gloves are off. The heated exchange of words between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress leaders, who had joined forces in 2024 to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the mayoral polls, seem to be on the verge of a split. While local leaders of both parties are openly denying any possibility of fighting the MC General House elections, slated for December, together, there is a huge question mark on the upcoming mayoral elections, especially since the Congress is saying it is open to an "alliance with anyone" to beat the saffron party. On Tuesday, AAP's Chandigarh in-charge Jarnail Singh had posted on social media site 'X': "On the one hand, bitter rivals; on the other hand, partners in power. The BJP having the mayor's chair in Chandigarh and the Congress holding the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor is strong proof of an alliance between the BJP and the Congress. The country has now understood this sham fight of yours. This game will not last much longer." The Congress had hit out, recalling that in 2024, the mayor belonged to AAP while BJP leaders held key deputy posts. Political experts say Jarnail's X post may have been a well-thought out strategy to prepare ground for the Punjab assembly elections slated early next year. The results of Chandigarh MC polls will have a direct bearing on Punjab elections, and the two parties cannot be seen fighting together in the state's capital just months before. Jarnail's comments had come just a day after Congress' Chandigarh unit president HS Lucky, in a meeting with the party leadership, MP Manish Tewari and councillors, had announced that they are willing to join hands with anyone to defeat the BJP in the mayoral polls. On Wednesday, Lucky, while talking to HT, said, "There is no way we will contest the December 2026 MC General House elections together. We will sweep the MC elections on our own and do not need a party which has no stand. I think Jarnail Singh was asleep when he suddenly woke up and wrote on social media that the Congress and the BJP are together. In fact, it is AAP councillors who have always betrayed us to join the BJP." AAP president Vijay Pal Singh refused to comment on the upcoming mayoral elections but said there will be no alliance during the December elections....