Rahul Gandhi’s ‘dream’ vs. local fighting in Haryana… Where is the problem in the AAP-Congress deal?

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi had asked to explore the possibility of an alliance with Aam Aadmi Party in the Haryana Assembly elections. Talks have also started between the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party on the seat sharing formula. The nomination process has also started but the alliance between the two parties has not been announced yet.

After Rahul Gandhi’s statement, the speed with which both the parties assigned the responsibility of seat sharing to Deepender Hooda and Raghav Chaddha, it was believed that the announcement would be made in a day or two. Now the question is that when both the parties are so serious, then where is the problem, why is there a delay in announcing the alliance? This can be understood from three points.

1- Demand of Aam Aadmi Party

Congress had fought the recent Lok Sabha elections in alliance with Aam Aadmi Party. Congress had fielded candidates on nine seats in the state and one seat went to Aam Aadmi Party- Kurukshetra. There are a total of 90 assembly seats in Haryana and an average of nine assembly seats fall in one Lok Sabha constituency. Aam Aadmi Party wants seat sharing on the same 9:1 formula of Lok Sabha elections. On the basis of this formula of 10 percent, Aam Aadmi Party is demanding nine assembly seats.

2- Haryana Congress is not ready to give nine seats

The leaders of Haryana Congress are not ready to give the number of seats demanded by Aam Aadmi Party. Haryana Congress wants that if Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party and Left have to be taken together, then the minimum number of seats that can be agreed upon should be agreed upon. The number of seats in the account of alliance partners should remain in single digits and should not go into double digits.

Also read: Alliance with AAP or displeasure of MPs? Now tussle in Congress over Haryana elections, CEC meeting to be held again

The reason behind this is the confidence of victory in view of the Lok Sabha election results, anti-incumbency against the government, and Jat-farmer resentment. Bihar election results are also a factor when the RJD-led opposition Mahagathbandhan reached the threshold of victory but lost power. Congress’s insistence on more seats was being blamed for this. Haryana Congress does not want to make any mistake at any level in these elections which may harm its prospects.

3- Opposition from local leadership

The local leadership of Haryana Congress is against the alliance with Aam Aadmi Party. Former CM Bhupendra Singh Hooda has repeatedly said before and after the Lok Sabha elections that Congress will fight the assembly elections alone. Congress, which came into active mode at the behest of Rahul Gandhi, handed over the responsibility of talks regarding seat sharing to Bhupendra Hooda’s son and MP Deepender Hooda, and this was being seen as a strategy to involve him in the process and make him agree for the alliance. Now Captain Ajay Yadav has also come out against the alliance. Captain has said that in my opinion Congress does not need an alliance in Haryana.

Also read: Congress is confident in Haryana but still why does Rahul Gandhi want an alliance with AAP? Understand in 5 points

4- Confusion among people regarding alliance

Senior Haryana journalist Pradeep Dabas said that if local Congress leaders are opposing the alliance with Aam Aadmi Party, then one of the factors behind it is the confusion among the people. Since the Lok Sabha elections, leaders of both the parties have been talking about fighting alone. Local leaders are not sure how long Aam Aadmi Party, which was built on the foundation of opposition to Congress, will stay together. Whether it is Hooda or other leaders, they do not want the support of any party for the government. They fear that Congress may have to bear the loss of alliance.

Last date for nomination is 12th September

The nomination process in Haryana has started with the notification on September 5, which will continue till September 12. Voting for all 90 assembly seats will be held in a single phase on October 5. The election results will be declared on October 8. It is worth noting that earlier the date of voting in Haryana was October 1 and the results were to be declared on October 4, but later the election schedule was changed in view of the festival of Bishnoi community and the demand to change the date.