AAP-Congress alliance faces hurdles over seat-sharing ahead of Haryana assembly polls: Reports

New Delhi: The alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress in Haryana has hit a major snag due to disagreements over seat-sharing negotiations. According to reports, Congress leaders in Haryana are reluctant to concede more seats to AAP, leading to growing friction between the two parties as the October 5 Assembly elections draw closer.

Tensions over seat distribution

Reports revealed that if Congress insists on maintaining the existing seat-sharing formula, the alliance may not materialize for the upcoming elections. AAP has indicated that it is prepared to go solo if a more favorable seat distribution isn't agreed upon. Reports suggest that AAP is eyeing 50 constituencies in the 90-member Haryana Assembly if the deadlock persists.

#WATCH | Delhi | On possible alliance with Congress for Haryana elections, AAP leader Raghav Chadha says, "Talks are going on. We are hopeful that alliance will form in favour of Haryana and the country." pic.twitter.com/VhIWF8q6nH

— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2024

Rebel leaders eye AAP tickets

Further complicating the situation is the fact that several rebel leaders from both Congress and the BJP are expected to contest under the AAP banner. This development has put additional pressure on the seat-sharing talks, as AAP looks to carve out a stronger presence in the state.

AAP's election strategy

Sources have also confirmed that AAP is preparing to release its first list of candidates by Sunday. The party aims to secure at least 5-7 seats through the alliance. However, Congress, which won 31 seats in the previous state election while AAP failed to win any, remains cautious about allocating more seats to its partner.

Congress’s hesitance may stem from AAP’s disappointing performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. AAP only contested one seat and lost, while Congress contested nine seats, securing five victories. This may be influencing Congress's reluctance to grant AAP a larger share of the seats.

Election date shift

The Haryana Assembly elections are set for October 5, with nominations closing on September 12. The Election Commission moved the election date from October 1 to October 5 to accommodate the Bishnoi community's traditional voting practices.