Congress-AAP alliance faces hurdles in north India

I.N.D.I.A, the opposition alliance against the central NDA government is facing internal rifts, particularly in the northern states of Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana.

The main point of contention is the reluctance of Congress leaders from these states to collaborate with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The recent situation mirrors disagreements during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when AAP and Congress could not reach a consensus. AAP has recently offered Congress three Lok Sabha seats in Delhi. However, sources suggest that the Delhi unit of Congress remains hesitant, citing past experiences.

Additionally, AAP’s proposed alliance is receiving mixed reactions from Congress leaders in Haryana and Punjab. While Punjab Congress President Raja Amarinder Singh Wadding and legislature party leader Pratap Singh Bajwa openly oppose any association with AAP, former Haryana CM Bhupendra Singh Hooda insists that Congress doesn’t require an alliance in Haryana, referencing AAP’s performance in a recent by-election.

Despite this, certain Congress members like Navjot Singh Sidhu advocate for a high command decision on the alliance. Meanwhile, the SRK Group in Haryana, including Kumari Selja, Randeep Singh Surjewala, and Kiran Choudhary, remains conspicuously silent on the matter.