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The upcoming Haryana Assembly elections in 2024 are set to witness a potential alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Indian National Congress, as the two parties engage in ongoing seat-sharing talks. Sources within AAP reveal that senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has already held two rounds of discussions with Congress leader KC Venugopal, with a third meeting anticipated in the coming days.
AAP's aspirations for the upcoming elections are ambitious, as they are seeking a significant share of the total 90 seats. Their current demand stands at 10 seats, with a strategy to secure one seat in each of the 10 Lok Sabha constituencies within Haryana. However, the Congress party seems to be more cautious in its offer, expressing willingness to cede only seven seats to their potential allies.
Adding further fuel to the speculation regarding an alliance, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh welcomed reports suggesting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has expressed interest in forging a partnership with AAP for the Haryana polls. He emphasized that the priority for all opposition parties is to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), highlighting the shared goal of countering the BJP's perceived dominance in the state.
Despite the ongoing discussions and signals of willingness to cooperate, Singh clarified that any final decision regarding an alliance would be contingent on the approval of AAP's national convener, Arvind Kejriwal. This statement underscores the crucial role that Kejriwal plays in determining the party's strategic direction, especially as he is currently in jail due to allegations related to an excise policy.
The prospect of an AAP-Congress alliance in Haryana has been fueled by reports from a meeting of the Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC). In the meeting, Rahul Gandhi is said to have expressed a positive view towards the possibility of an alliance with AAP. This development signifies a potential shift in the Congress' strategy, as they seek to consolidate support and challenge the BJP's stronghold in the state.
Despite the optimism surrounding a potential alliance, AAP's leadership has emphasized that any official statement regarding their stance on the matter will be communicated by Sandeep Pathak, the party's in-charge of Haryana affairs, and Sushil Gupta, the state president. Their pronouncements will serve as the definitive word on the alliance's fate, after receiving the necessary approval from Kejriwal.
The upcoming Haryana elections are expected to be highly competitive, with the BJP seeking to retain its hold on the state. The potential alliance between AAP and Congress adds a new dimension to the political landscape, as the two parties aim to capitalize on their combined strengths and challenge the BJP's dominance. The final decision on the alliance, however, remains subject to the ongoing negotiations between the parties, with the final say resting with Arvind Kejriwal.
Source: Haryana Assembly Elections 2024 | Congress and AAP in seat sharing talks