Alliance Talks Between Congress and AAP Collapse Ahead of Haryana Polls
Discussions between Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for an alliance in the upcoming Haryana state elections ended on Monday, September 9. Despite no official confirmation from either side, AAP’s release of its first list of 20 candidates signaled the end of the talks. AAP also promised to announce its remaining 70 candidates soon.
Breakdown in Talks
Media reports revealed that AAP had requested 10 seats in the seat-sharing agreement. Meanwhile, Congress had already released 41 candidates in two lists, with more names expected shortly. The last day to file nominations for the October 5 elections is September 12.
AAP Haryana convener Sushil Gupta addressed the alliance breakdown, stating that the party had waited patiently for the talks to succeed. Ultimately, AAP chose to contest alone. He emphasized that AAP’s focus is on bringing change to Haryana and that the party’s workers are preparing for the fight.
Congress’s Response
Congress MP Deepender Hooda noted that every political party acts in its own interest. While Congress had initially explored the possibility of a tie-up with AAP, internal opposition from state leaders derailed the talks. Local Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, strongly opposed the idea of sharing seats with AAP. They argued that Congress had a strong voter base in Haryana and could contest the elections without needing an alliance.
Why Congress Opted Out
Reports indicated that AAP’s demand for 10 seats clashed with Congress’s plans. Many of the seats AAP wanted already had established Congress candidates. Haryana Congress leaders feared that an alliance would only benefit AAP, a party that struggled to gain a foothold in the region. In the last state elections, AAP contested 46 seats but failed to secure a significant vote share, with many candidates forfeiting their security deposits.
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Congress leadership believed it could perform well in the upcoming polls, relying on its own strengths. Leaders also noted that an alliance might risk providing AAP with a platform to expand its presence in Haryana, a region where it had yet to establish a strong voter base.
AAP’s Candidate List
AAP’s first list includes notable leaders such as Anurag Dhanda, who will contest from Kalayat, and Kuldeep Gadrana, who will face off against JJP’s Digvijay Chautala in Dabwali. AAP has also fielded candidates in several constituencies where Congress has sitting MLAs, signaling a competitive race ahead.
As both parties prepare for the upcoming elections, it is clear that they will fight independently, with no alliance in place.
