TNFChandigarh/ TNF
Congress & AAP | In a strategic move for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are considering an alliance. Both parties aim to replicate their successful collaboration in Chandigarh’s mayoral and parliamentary elections.
According to Congress sources, Rahul Gandhi has initiated the discussions for this alliance. During a central election committee (CEC) meeting on Monday evening, Gandhi sought input from Haryana leaders about the feasibility and potential benefits of a partnership with AAP. A committee led by KC Venugopal, including Deepak Babaria, Ajay Maken, and Bhupinder Hooda, has been formed to explore the possibility of this alliance.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress and AAP had a partial collaboration. Congress contested in nine out of ten constituencies, while AAP contested in one. Congress won five seats, but AAP lost the Kurukshetra seat. This formula could be used for seat-sharing in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections.
During the meeting, Rahul Gandhi questioned whether a coalition with AAP would be beneficial, and what the potential advantages and disadvantages might be. Reports suggest that former Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda is skeptical, stating that AAP might demand more than three to four seats, which could complicate the alliance.
Congress State In-Charge Deepak Babaria indicated that an alliance is possible and that talks are ongoing with AAP and other partners in the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. The goal is to consolidate votes and prevent the BJP from gaining an advantage.
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain criticized the potential alliance, suggesting that Congress is resorting to last-minute strategies because they realize they cannot win in Haryana. He claimed that no matter what Congress does, the people of Haryana are with the BJP.
According to sources close to Rahul Gandhi, the alliance is driven by three main reasons:
- To avoid splitting opposition votes, as seen in Gujarat where Congress and AAP fought separately, leading to losses for Congress.
- Haryana’s proximity to Punjab, where AAP governs, could impact Congress votes due to AAP’s influence on border seats.
- To demonstrate a united opposition front and show that the opposition is cohesive.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh welcomed the idea of the alliance, emphasizing that defeating the BJP is a priority. Singh stated that the focus is on combating BJP’s policies, including those against farmers and youth, and addressing inflation. He added that official discussions would be led by AAP’s Haryana in-charge and state president, who will report back to Arvind Kejriwal.
Chandigarh’s Success Formula
In Chandigarh, Congress supported AAP in the mayoral election. In March this year, AAP and Congress fought separately in the municipal elections, with AAP winning 13 seats and Congress 7. The BJP, with 14 seats, was the largest party. However, under the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, AAP and Congress collaborated to elect Kuldeep Kumar as the mayor, marking their first successful joint effort against BJP.
For the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, AAP supported Congress, leading to a win for Congress candidate Manish Tiwari with 48.22% of the votes. This was a significant improvement from previous elections where Congress and AAP had lost to BJP candidates. This collaboration demonstrates how a strategic alliance can enhance electoral success.
