• Source:JND
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Haryana Assembly Election 2024: The Assembly Elections in Haryana are just around the corner with political parties stepping up the preparations. Congress on Monday held a meeting of the party's Central Election Committee, to discuss the ticket allocation for the upcoming polls. The meeting was attended by the party's top brass including AICC Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP Rahul Gandhi. Now, amid the preparations for the polls, speculations are rife that Congress can join hands with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the Haryana Assembly Elections 2024.

The speculations stemmed from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks at the CEC meeting where he said that Haryana voters shouldn't get divided and further asked the state leadership about the possibilities of contesting elections as an INDIA alliance. If media reports are to be believed, Rahul Gandhi is of the view that defeating BJP should remain the only focus of the opposition INDIA Bloc, fuelling speculations that Congress might join hands with its Lok Sabha Election partner AAP. However, neither Congress nor AAP has put an official stamp on the alliance rumours.

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Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's statement former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, as reported by ANI, said that they are ready for an alliance but can only give 3-4 seats to AAP. However, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party is demanding a larger seat share, which is reportedly putting a roadblock in the alliance talks between the two parties.

Haryana Assembly Election: What AAP Said On Alliance With Congress?

Amid the rumours of an alliance between AAP and Congress, AAP leader Sanjay Singh welcomed Rahul Gandhi's interest in joining hands with his party and shared similar sentiments saying that defeating the BJP is a priority of all the opposition parties. However, he left the decision regarding the alliance to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. AAP earlier this year had announced that it would be contesting the Haryana Assembly Election alone on all 90 seats.

"Defeating the BJP and its politics of hatred and politics against people, farmers and youth is a priority for all of us," Singh said, as quoted by PTI, adding that any official stand on the issue will be made by AAP's in-charge of Haryana affairs Sandeep Pathak and state president Sushil Gupta.

"Any final decision in this regard will be taken by our leaders associated with organisational and election related works in Haryana, after approval of Kejriwal," Sanjay Singh said.

Delhi minister Atishi said the decision will only be taken after Kejriwal is released. "Rahul Gandhi has sought opinion from Congress leaders and only they can answer. We have got to know about it from media. As far as alliance goes, the decision will be taken after Arvind Kejriwal comes out," Delhi Minister Atishi said.

Haryana Assembly Election: Why AAP-Congress Alliance May Not Happen?

When asked about the possible alliance with Congress, AAP Haryana chief Sushil Gupta said that the final decision will be taken by the party's high command. However, he said that his party has been preparing for all 90 seats across Haryana and "should not just settle for 4-5 seats under the seat-sharing formula."

"Alliance is a matter of the high command, if the high command asks, I will put my views before them. I clearly believe that Aam Aadmi Party should not agree to 4-5 seats (in the alliance). Our focus is on all 90 seats. But being a disciplined soldier, we will accept the decision taken by our national leadership," he said.

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Haryana Congress leaders have also raised concerns over the alliance with AAP with senior Congress leader Kumari Selja ruling out the possibility of a pact with AAP, saying her party is strong in the state and will fight the elections on its own. Responding to Rahul Gandhi's statement, former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that they can only give 3-4 seats to AAP however they are demanding more than that, so it is difficult to form an alliance.

The elections in Haryana will be held in a single phase on October 5, and the counting of votes will happen on October 8. Notably, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on August 31, revised the polling day for Haryana Assembly polls from October 1 to October 5, this year, as well as moved the counting of votes for both Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana assemblies from October 4 to October 8.