Congress-AAP Alliance?: Congress had performed well in the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana, after which it was believed that they would contest the assembly elections here alone, then why does Rahul Gandhi want an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party.
It is believed that if Congress and AAP form an alliance in Haryana, the seat sharing formula will remain the same as was adopted during the Lok Sabha elections. That is, if an agreement is reached, Congress can give 5 seats to AAP, while Samajwadi Party can get 1 seat. It is also being said that the seats have also been identified.
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Voting is to be held in a single phase on October 1 for 90 assembly seats in Haryana (Haryana Assembly Elections 2024). After the announcement of the voting date, political parties including BJP, Congress, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) in Haryana are busy doing political calculations to strengthen their strength. BJP is also brainstorming for the distribution of tickets and to strengthen its strength in the state. On the other hand, the interference of UP parties has also increased in Haryana politics. In an attempt to return to power, INLD has formed an alliance with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). At the same time, Dushyant Chautala’s JJP has joined hands with Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad’s party. Now there is speculation about Congress’ friendship with Aam Aadmi Party in the state.
The question is that in the Lok Sabha elections, AAP and Congress had formed an alliance in Delhi and Haryana. This alliance failed. Things did not work out in Punjab either. In such a situation, what is the fear that is once again taking Congress closer to the Aam Aadmi Party?
According to Congress sources, in the election committee meeting held on Monday, Rahul Gandhi asked the leaders whether we should form an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party in Haryana? Rahul also asked whether this alliance is possible in view of the assembly elections or not? If the alliance happens, what will be its advantages and disadvantages? Rahul has sought a report about this.
After the election committee meeting, Congress state in-charge Deepak Babaria said that an alliance can be formed. For this, talks are going on with AAP and other parties that are allies of India. We want to stop the polarization of votes and BJP in Haryana.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Haryana elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that Congress can contest these elections with Aam Aadmi Party as an ally. This means that Congress can leave some seats for AAP in these assembly elections. However, the local Congress unit of Haryana is not in support of this. After the Lok Sabha elections itself, it was felt that now there is hardly any coordination between AAP and Congress.
The question is why Rahul Gandhi wants to form an alliance with AAP in the Haryana assembly elections after performing well in the Lok Sabha elections. However, it remains to be seen whether this alliance happens or not.
Why Rahul wants alliance
Haryana Congress is confident that if they contest these elections alone, they can win and form the government. But Rahul Gandhi feels that it would be better to form an alliance with a party which currently has very little influence in Haryana. What is the reason behind this, on what basis does Rahul feel that an alliance with AAP would be better?
What is Congress worried about?
Actually, Congress is worried that the INLD-BSP alliance and the alliance between JJP-Azad Samaj Party may affect the Dalit votes received by Congress. Ultimately, it may have to bear the brunt of this in the elections. Therefore, Congress does not want to take any risk. Therefore, Congress is also considering a deal with AAP to prevent division of votes.
What is Rahul Gandhi’s strategy regarding AAP-SP?
It is also being said that Rahul Gandhi wants to prepare the political pitch of Congress in Haryana, so that the opposition becomes stronger than before against BJP. For this, a strategy is being worked on to bring small parties together. Many reasons are being given behind this step of Rahul Gandhi regarding alliance. First – no votes of the opposition should be cut. Because before this the party had to suffer losses in Gujarat. Congress and AAP fought the Gujarat elections alone. This affected the vote bank of Congress.
Second reason- Rahul Gandhi wants to keep the opposition unity alive. He wants to give the message that the opposition is completely united. Third reason- To avoid the loss due to the influence of AAP in Haryana. Because AAP has a good influence in Punjab. In such a situation, Congress is also afraid that if AAP contests the elections alone in Haryana adjacent to Punjab, it may suffer losses.
If there is an alliance, what will be the seat sharing formula?
Congress is ready to give 7 seats. Whereas AAP has demanded 10 seats. AAP says that in the last Lok Sabha elections, AAP contested on one Lok Sabha seat in Haryana, 9 seats come under one Lok Sabha. It is also being said that the seats have also been identified. The next meeting between Congress’s KC Venugopal and AAP’s Raghav Chadha can be held on Wednesday morning in the election committee meeting.
Haryana Congress not in favor of alliance with AAP
However, all the Congress leaders of the state are against any kind of agreement with the Aam Aadmi Party. These leaders have also told this to the high command. However, a section of the party feels that it is too late to compromise with any party. Former CM Bhupendra Hooda has been opposing the Congress-AAP alliance from the beginning. He has said many times before that even though there was an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, he will fight the Haryana Assembly elections 2024 alone.
Former CM Bhupendra Hooda said, “If there is an alliance, then only 3-4 seats can be given to AAP. But, AAP is demanding more than this, so the alliance is difficult. However, this decision has to be taken by the high command.”
Sanjay Singh agreed with Rahul Gandhi’s statement
After Rahul Gandhi’s statement came out, AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, “I welcome Rahul Gandhi’s statement. Defeating BJP is our priority. Our front is against their politics of hatred, their anti-people, anti-farmer, anti-youth policies of BJP and inflation. Defeating them is our priority, but, officially our Haryana in-charge and state president will inform Arvind Kejriwal about this on the basis of further talks and then something will be discussed further on this.”
How many seats and how many majority?
There are a total of 90 seats in Haryana, out of which the party or alliance winning 46 seats will be in a position to form the government. The current situation shows that the election in Haryana will be a close one. The situation will not be too one-sided. AAP has definitely given a positive response to this idea of Rahul Gandhi but nothing is decided yet as to what AAP will do. This decision will probably be in the hands of National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
What does the Haryana unit of AAP want?
If we talk about the Haryana unit of AAP, then they want to contest elections on 90 seats alone there. Kejriwal’s wife Sunita is busy campaigning in the state. She has described her husband as “son of Haryana” because he was born in Hisar.
AAP has announced to contest elections alone in Haryana
This is the first time AAP is contesting elections alone on all 90 seats in Haryana. Earlier in 2019, AAP contested elections on 47 seats. But could not win even a single seat. This time Arvind Kejriwal is not able to campaign due to being in jail. His wife Sunita Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann are holding rallies.
What is the impact and vote bank of AAP?
Aam Aadmi Party has less impact in Haryana but its voters can also be Muslims, Dalits and Jats. However, the youth of the city also go with them. Congress’s main support base is also the same in Haryana. AAP has influence in the urban areas of Haryana, which have traditionally been the stronghold of BJP.
Does Congress think AAP is its natural partner for the future?
Congress will release its first list of candidates in two-three days. The nomination process for the elections will begin on September 5 and will continue till September 12. It seems that Congress feels that AAP and its vote bank are the same, so it should be prevented from getting divided. At the national level, Aam Aadmi Party seems to be a natural partner for alliance. However, there is a if and but situation between the two in many matters.
However, if such an alliance happens, Aam Aadmi Party will benefit more from it. Its chances of getting some seats in Haryana will increase, the effect of which can be seen in the Delhi assembly elections along with its future politics in the coming times.
Know the Performance in Previous Elections
What was the result of the alliance between AAP-Congress in Delhi and Haryana?
In the Lok Sabha elections, there was an alliance between Aam Aadmi Party and Congress for all the 7 seats of Delhi. Congress contested on 3 seats, while AAP fielded candidates on 4 seats. However, both the parties could not win even a single seat. All 7 seats went to BJP’s account. While out of 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, Congress won 5 seats and BJP won 5 seats.
Alliance could not be formed in Punjab
There was no alliance between Aam Aadmi Party and Congress in the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. AAP refused to give even a single seat. In such a situation, both the parties contested the elections alone on 13 Lok Sabha seats here. Congress got benefit from this. It won 7 seats. While AAP got only 3 seats. One Akali Dal and 2 independents won on the remaining 3 seats.
Strength shown in Chandigarh
Unlike Punjab, the AAP-Congress alliance formula proved to be a hit in the two elections in Chandigarh. Both the parties fought the municipal corporation elections in alliance for 35 wards. AAP won 13 and Congress won 7 wards. Whereas BJP was reduced to only 14. Akali Dal got one seat. After a lot of political upheaval, AAP became the mayor.
Ultimately, the ball is in the court of the Congress high command and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal regarding the alliance. It remains to be seen what is the outcome of the talks between Raghav Chadha and KC Venugopal.
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In Shorts
1- Rahul Gandhi seeks an alliance with AAP in Haryana, despite Congress’s strong position.
2- The alliance may follow the Lok Sabha elections’ seat-sharing formula.
3- Congress fears losing Dalit votes due to INLD-BSP and JJP-Azad alliances.
4- Rahul aims to avoid opposition vote division and keep opposition unity alive.
5- Congress is prepared to offer AAP 7 seats, while AAP demands 10.
6- Haryana Congress leaders oppose the alliance with AAP, preferring to contest alone.
7- AAP has announced it will contest all 90 seats alone in Haryana.
8- AAP’s vote bank overlaps with Congress’s, especially in urban areas.
9- The alliance would benefit AAP more, potentially influencing future elections.
10- Past alliances between AAP and Congress showed mixed results in different regions.
