Haryana Elections 2024: Congress and AAP near seat-sharing agreement, offer for 4-6 seats on the table

Haryana September 9 2024 : As the Haryana Assembly elections approach, the Congress party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are close to finalizing a seat-sharing arrangement. However, negotiations have revealed a significant gap in expectations, with AAP demanding a minimum of 10 seats, while Congress appears willing to concede only 4 to 6 seats. In recent days, representatives from both parties have engaged in intensive discussions to break the impasse. AAP has stood firm on its demand for 10 constituencies, particularly those located near the Delhi border. Despite AAP’s insistence, Congress has maintained its position, reportedly offering a maximum of 6 seats if AAP is keen on forming an alliance. Positive dialogues have been reported between AAP’s Raghav Chadha and Congress’s Deepak Babaria. According to sources, there is a strong possibility that an agreement may center around 5 seats for AAP. A formal announcement regarding the alliance is anticipated on Monday, September 9. On Sunday, Raghav Chadha emphasized the collaborative spirit of the discussions, stating that both parties are striving to form an alliance by setting aside individual aspirations. However, he also cautioned that AAP would withdraw from the alliance if a “win-win situation” cannot be achieved. Chadha remarked, “Discussions are progressing in a constructive environment. Both parties are focused on collaborating for the elections, emphasizing unity and addressing the needs of the people of Haryana.”

Initially, both parties had indicated intentions to contest separately in the Haryana elections, despite uniting under the ‘INDIA’ banner for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, following a proposal from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, both sides have shown renewed interest in collaborating. While AAP has embraced the proposal, Congress has encountered internal divisions, particularly from former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who believes that Congress can independently defeat the BJP without accommodating AAP. The central leadership of Congress, however, is focused on diminishing the BJP’s influence, as the party has been in power in Haryana for the past decade. The Congress party aims to capitalize on the dissatisfaction among Jats, farmers, and youth that helped them improve their performance in the Lok Sabha elections. Alongside talks with AAP, Congress is also negotiating with the Samajwadi Party, another partner in the INDIA bloc, for potential seat allocations in Haryana. With elections scheduled for October 5 and the counting of votes on October 8, the last date for filing nominations is September 12. As the clock ticks down, both parties are under pressure to solidify their alliance and maximize their electoral prospects.