New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress that have been engaged in hectic parleys over the last few days to decide on an possible alliance for the Haryana Assembly elections are unlikely to contest the polls together as the negotiations between the two parties for seat-sharing deal have hit an impasse, sources said.
The two parties held hectic consultations this week to explore the possibility of stitching a pre-poll alliance for the October 5 elections in Haryana. However, the tie-up talks hit a roadblock as the two parties failed to reach a consensus on seat-sharing arrangement.
While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has shown interest in forging an alliance with the AAP, some of his party leader have expressed reservations over a tie-up with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. The Hooda faction of the grand old party and some other leaders are not in favour of a seat-sharing deal with the AAP, citing Kejriwal’s party’s weak position in Haryana, the sources said.
Besides, the Congress is also reluctant to give 10 Assembly seats to the AAP as demanded by the Kejriwal’s party, and is ready to allot only five to seven seats seats to it. AAP MP Raghav Chadha who was part of the tie-up talks with Congress earlier said that all possible efforts are being made to reach a consensus.
AAP to go solo in Haryana polls?
Amid deadlock over the seat-sharing deal with the Congress, the AAP is now contemplating going solo in the Haryana polls and is planning to contest 50 seats in the state, sources in the party said. The Kejriwal-led party is likely to release its first list of candidates on Sunday, the sources added. “The alliance talks are on the verge of collapse in Haryana and the AAP is planning to contest 50 of the 90 Assembly seats in the state on its own,” the sources in the AAP claimed, PTI reported.
Notably, the AAP and the Congress, partners in INDIA bloc, contested the recent Lok Sabha polls in Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi together.
Disgruntled BJP, Congress leaders to join AAP?
The AAP sources claimed that there is possibility of sulking BJP and Congress leaders of Haryana unit joining the Kejriwal’s party. Several BJP and Congress leaders are miffed with their respective parties over ticket distribution. Several senior leaders of the ruling BJP, including sitting MLAs and state ministers, have announced that they would quit the party after being denied ticket for the polls. The Congress is also facing rebellion from their own leaders over ticket distribution for Haryana polls.