Haryana Assembly Election 2024: To defeat BJP in the Haryana assembly elections, the buzz of alliance between AAP and Congress has intensified. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has indicated to contest the elections together with Aam Aadmi Party this time. Congress has also formed a committee to discuss with AAP leaders in this regard. The round of talks between the two parties has also started. In the initial talks itself, there is a tussle over the seats to be given to AAP.
Both the parties had formed an alliance during the Lok Sabha elections as well. In this alliance, Congress managed to win five seats while AAP could not open its account. Actually, by forming an alliance with Aam Aadmi Party, Rahul Gandhi wants to stop the division of anti-BJP votes in Haryana. Amidst the talks of alliance between the two parties, BJP has cited the fear of defeat as the main reason behind this initiative.
When the elections came, both the parties changed their stance
Earlier, like BJP, Congress and AAP leaders had also talked about fighting the elections on their own in Haryana, but now that the elections are near, the attitude of the leaders of both the parties has changed. Now it is believed that both the parties can create a big challenge for BJP by joining hands.
There has been a principle agreement between the two parties to contest the elections together but the seat sharing is yet to be decided. With the agreement between Congress and AAP on seat sharing, Samajwadi Party has also entered the fray. It is being said that Samajwadi Party will also be given seats in Haryana along with the alliance.
Congress formed a committee on Rahul’s initiative
Informed sources say that during the Central Election Committee meeting regarding Haryana, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked questions to the leaders of Haryana regarding the possibilities of alliance. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi wanted to know from the Congress leaders whether Congress should form an alliance with AAP in Haryana? To what extent is there a possibility of this alliance happening and what can be the political advantages or disadvantages in case of an alliance?
A committee has also been formed by the Congress to discuss seat sharing with AAP leaders. Ajay Maken, state in-charge Deepak Babaria and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda have been made members of this committee headed by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal.
During the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana, Congress contested on nine seats and AAP on one seat. Congress managed to win 5 of these seats while AAP had to face defeat in Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency.
Signs of the result of the talks will be seen soon
However, amid the talks of alliance between Congress and AAP, the tussle over seats has also started. Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda says that we can give three or four seats to Congress while AAP is demanding more seats. In such a situation, there is a problem regarding the alliance.
On the other hand, Congress state in-charge Deepak Babaria says that there can be an alliance between the two parties in Haryana. He said that Congress is in talks with AAP and other parties of the India Alliance and its results will be seen soon.
Why did Congress initiate an alliance with AAP?
Congress is completely confident of winning the Haryana assembly elections this time. That is why the Haryana unit had earlier denied any kind of alliance in the state. Now after Rahul Gandhi’s intervention in this matter, efforts to form an alliance have been started once again. Experts say that Rahul Gandhi believes that an alliance with a party that has some influence in Haryana can prove beneficial for the Congress.
Along with this, Congress also wants to prevent division of anti-BJP votes. This time, the Haryana assembly elections are expected to be a close contest between BJP and Congress and in such a situation, an alliance with AAP can prove to be very effective.
There is a tussle between the two parties over the number of seats
However, despite a lot of efforts from the Congress, an alliance with AAP in Haryana is not considered easy. During the initial talks, the Aam Aadmi Party has demanded 10 seats while the Congress is ready to give only four to five seats. The Congress is arguing that only those seats can be given to AAP in the four assembly constituencies in which the AAP candidate had a lead during the Lok Sabha elections.
It is believed that in case of an alliance, Akhilesh Yadav’s party Samajwadi Party can also be given a chance to contest on one seat. There are two factions of Congress in Haryana. Among these, the faction led by Bhupendra Singh Hooda is ready to give some seats to AAP after Rahul Gandhi’s intervention, while the other faction led by Shailja is strongly opposing the alliance with AAP.
Congress is making alliance due to fear of defeat
On the other hand, BJP says that Congress is afraid of its defeat and hence the party has decided to form an alliance with AAP. Party leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that Congress has come to know that the party is not going to win the Haryana assembly elections. That is why Congress is trying to form an alliance with AAP at the last moment.
He said that no matter how much effort is made by the Congress, only the BJP will win the Haryana assembly elections. He said that the people of the state are completely with the BJP and BJP is sure to win.
