Talks with Cong in limbo, AAP wants tie-up in Delhi, Punjab

Gurgaon: The suspense over poll alliance between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress in Haryana refuses to die down. While the AAP says alliance will benefit Congress in Haryana, local Congress leaders have a different take. Meanwhile, BJP has taken a lead over the two, because it has already started its campaign, even as confusion reigns in both Congress and AAP camps.
A senior Congress leader said AAP candidates had lost deposits in all 10 seats in Haryana in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, while Congress came second or third in most seats.

Therefore, Congress will not gain much from an alliance, he added.

Captain Ajay Yadav said senior Congress leaders in Delhi have also made it clear the party is not discussing alliance with any party for the capital too, and that it expects to announce its list of candidates very soon in Haryana.

“We’re prepared to go solo and will give a tough fight to our rivals. And as far as the BJP campaign is concerned, people of Haryana are tired of fake promises made by the saffron party, leaving Congress as their sole option,” he said.

Local Congress leaders don’t agree to the condition of alliance proposed by AAP. Reportedly, AAP is demanding three seats in the state — Gurgaon, Faridabad and Karnal — from Congress, besides the latter’s pledge for alliance in neighbouring Delhi and declaration of support to AAP’s demand for full statehood for the national capital.

Chief spokesperson of Congress, Randeep Surjewala, had said on Sunday that the party is yet to reach a decision on stitching an alliance with AAP in the national capital, and that there are no talks on alliance with any party, including AAP, in either Haryana or Punjab.

AAP spokesperson R S Rathee said the party is expecting clarity over alliance with Congress in Delhi in a day or two. If there is an alliance, the party will contest Haryana and Punjab also in alliance. And if that doesn’t work out, it will announce its list of candidates and fight solo.