Congress and AAP in Talks for Haryana Assembly Election Alliance
The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are close to forming an alliance for the upcoming Haryana Assembly election, sources revealed on Tuesday. The two parties have reached an “in-principle understanding” to collaborate, but the challenge lies in finalizing the division of the Assembly’s 90 seats.
Seat-Sharing Discussions Underway
In initial negotiations, AAP has requested 10 seats, while Congress is offering between five and seven. The Congress is also reportedly willing to allocate one seat to the Samajwadi Party, led by former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
A key meeting between AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal is expected on Wednesday to resolve the seat-sharing issue. The deadline for filing nominations is October 4, with voting scheduled for October 5.
also read: Congress and National Conference Finalize Seat-Sharing Deal for Jammu and Kashmir Elections
Future of the Alliance Beyond Haryana
It remains uncertain whether this alliance will extend beyond the Haryana election, particularly for the 2025 Delhi Assembly election. AAP has dominated the Delhi Assembly since 2013, but with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal currently in jail due to the liquor policy case, the party faces significant challenges.
Rahul Gandhi Advocates for INDIA Bloc Continuation
Earlier in the day, it emerged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi suggested that members of the INDIA bloc continue their partnership formed ahead of the 2024 general election. Gandhi emphasized the importance of this alliance to prevent a division of votes.
In the 2024 Haryana Lok Sabha election, Congress and AAP contested the state’s 10 seats on a 9:1 basis. Congress won five seats, while AAP lost its only seat, Kurukshetra, to BJP’s Naveen Jindal by around 29,000 votes.
Congress in a Strong Position for Seat Talks
Given AAP’s performance in Haryana, where it lost its only contested seat, Congress feels it holds a stronger position in seat-sharing discussions. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state unit leaders have been hesitant to concede more seats to AAP.
In a recent interview, Hooda downplayed the importance of the AAP-Congress Lok Sabha alliance at the state level, stating, “Here in Haryana, the fight is between the BJP and the Congress.”
AAP’s Public Stance on the Alliance
Despite the ongoing negotiations, AAP is maintaining a positive public stance. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh told reporters that the party “welcomes” the alliance, emphasizing their priority to defeat the BJP.
Earlier this year, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had announced plans to contest all 90 seats in Haryana independently. However, the party’s Central Election Committee, which met on Monday, has reportedly finalized candidates for 49 seats, with a focus on renominating sitting MLAs.
