Summary:
- Talks of an AAP-Congress alliance for the Haryana Assembly elections are likely to collapse, with AAP planning to contest 50 seats solo.
- AAP sources said the party would release its first candidate list on Sunday, Sept 8.
- Despite previous alliances for the Lok Sabha polls as part of the INDIA bloc, disagreements over seat sharing have stalled talks.
- Congress’s Rahul Gandhi showed interest in an alliance, but the Haryana Congress unit, led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, opposes the proposal.
- AAP has struggled in past Haryana elections but is looking to improve its performance.
Full Article:
Discussions of a potential alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections appear to be breaking down. Sources within AAP confirmed on Friday that the party is preparing to contest 50 assembly seats independently, signaling a shift away from the potential partnership.
While there had been previous collaboration between the two parties during the Lok Sabha elections under the INDIA bloc, seat-sharing disagreements have created a significant roadblock. AAP had reportedly asked for 10 seats, but Congress offered only seven, which AAP declined.
Congress Internal Disagreement
The idea of an AAP-Congress alliance was reportedly floated during a meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) on Monday, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed interest in working with AAP. However, this idea has created a divide within the Congress party, particularly in its Haryana unit.
Sources revealed that Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the former Chief Minister of Haryana and a prominent Congress leader, strongly opposed any alliance with AAP. His opposition was so intense that he reportedly walked out of a party meeting due to disagreements over the proposal.
Despite ongoing discussions between AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and Congress leader Deepak Babaria, who is in charge of the party’s affairs in Haryana, the alliance seems unlikely to materialize.
AAP’s Electoral Journey in Haryana
AAP has faced significant challenges in Haryana since its political debut in the state in 2014. The party has not won any seats in either the Assembly or Lok Sabha elections so far. Despite these setbacks, AAP’s leadership is pushing forward with plans to make a substantial impact in the 2024 Assembly elections.
Arvind Kejriwal, AAP’s national convener and Delhi’s Chief Minister, hails from Siwani village in Haryana’s Bhiwani district, which could bolster the party’s campaign in the state. AAP’s best performance in Haryana came during the general elections when it contested the Kurukshetra seat in alliance with Congress, narrowly losing to the ruling BJP.
As the Haryana elections approach, AAP’s decision to contest alone on a large number of seats signals its determination to gain ground in the state despite past electoral struggles.
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