Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
In a significant move to bolster the Opposition bloc in India, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have formalized seat-sharing agreements across Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Chandigarh, and Goa for the imminent Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May this year.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference attended by Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik and representatives from AAP, including Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Sandeep Pathak. The alliance aims to combat challenges posed to Indian democracy, with both parties emphasizing national interest over individual party affiliations.
In the national capital, Delhi, AAP is set to contest in New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi, and East Delhi, while the Congress will vie for seats in Chandni Chowk, North East, and North West Delhi.
Moving to Haryana, Congress will take the lead in nine Lok Sabha constituencies, with AAP securing one seat in Kurukshetra. In Gujarat, Congress will field candidates in 24 constituencies, leaving Bhavnagar and Bharuch for AAP. Chandigarh will witness a solo Congress venture, while Goa will see the Congress independently contesting both Lok Sabha seats.
Notably, no seat-sharing deal has been finalized for Punjab, where AAP has declared its intent to contest in all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Both AAP and Congress affirmed their commitment to contesting the elections under their respective symbols while collaborating on a joint effort to secure victory. The alliance, labeled the INDIA bloc, seeks to address concerns such as the arrest of opposition leaders, farmer distress, and compromises on institutional integrity.
During the press conference, Wasnik asserted, “Parties are not only contesting polls individually; we are fighting jointly under the INDIA bloc.” AAP representative Sandeep Pathak emphasized the alliance’s intent to present a formidable alternative, putting aside differences to upset the BJP’s political equation.
As the Opposition solidifies its stance against perceived threats to democracy, this alliance between AAP and Congress marks a strategic move ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
