In a strategic move ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, the Congress party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have finalized an alliance, according to sources. The agreement includes a seat-sharing arrangement in which Congress will allocate five seats to AAP, with one seat each designated for the Samajwadi Party and the Left.
Seat-Sharing Formula
The alliance follows a 5-1-1 formula: five seats for AAP, one for the Samajwadi Party, and one for the Left. This arrangement will be further discussed in a Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting scheduled for 6 pm today.
Congress and AAP Move Towards Coalition
Earlier in the day, Haryana Congress in-charge Deepak Babaria confirmed that discussions with AAP were progressing. He emphasized the importance of unity to prevent vote division in the battle against the BJP. “We are holding talks with INDIA alliance parties and will announce the final decision soon,” Babaria said. A decision on Vinesh Phogat’s candidacy is also expected today.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh welcomed Rahul Gandhi’s favorable remarks about the alliance. Singh highlighted that defeating the BJP is the priority. An official decision on the alliance will be made by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal after discussions with key party members.
Political Impact and Previous Alliances
Both Congress and AAP aim to enhance their influence in Haryana, where the election will take place on October 5, with results to be declared on October 8. The two parties had previously formed alliances for the Lok Sabha elections in Haryana, Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, and Chandigarh.
BJP Criticizes the Alliance
In response to the alliance, BJP MP Yogender Chandolia criticized the Congress-AAP coalition. Chandolia pointed out that the previous alliance in Delhi was unsuccessful and accused the parties of seeking alliances due to their weakened positions. He urged Congress to address internal party issues before pursuing further alliances.
As the Haryana Assembly elections approach, the evolving dynamics between Congress and AAP will be closely watched, potentially reshaping the political landscape in the state.