Amidst the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the ongoing negotiations regarding seat allocation between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress in Delhi ahead of the impending Lok Sabha elections, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal addressed queries concerning the potential alliance between the two parties. Kejriwal, speaking on Wednesday, hinted at a forthcoming resolution, stating, "Let's see what happens in the next 1-2 days," in response to inquiries regarding the delay in finalizing seat-sharing arrangements.
Kejriwal's commentary emerges amidst a backdrop of suspense surrounding the discussions between AAP and Congress over seat distribution in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls. Friction intensified between the constituent parties of the INDIA bloc following AAP's proposal to allocate just one out of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi to Congress.
When probed about the likelihood of an imminent announcement regarding the AAP-Congress alliance in Delhi, Kejriwal expressed uncertainty, remarking, "I don't know."
AAP Member of Parliament Sandeep Pathak weighed in last week, asserting, "On the basis of merit, the Congress party does not warrant even a solitary seat in Delhi. However, mindful of the 'dharma of alliance,' we are extending an offer of one seat in Delhi to them."
Pathak's comments served as a subtle jab at Congress, highlighting the party's lack of a substantial foothold in Lok Sabha seats across Delhi. He underscored, "In Delhi, the Congress party holds zero seats in the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections. In the MCD elections, Congress has secured only 9 seats out of 250."
Interestingly, Congress finds itself sidelined by its INDIA bloc partner in Punjab and Chandigarh, following Arvind Kejriwal's declaration that AAP would contest all 14 Lok Sabha seats in those regions.
While negotiations regarding seat-sharing with AAP in Delhi remain in limbo, the Samajwadi Party, another ally of the INDIA bloc, has reached a consensus on alliance terms in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav disclosed on Wednesday that Congress would vie for 17 seats in UP, with the remaining 63 seats contested by the Samajwadi Party and other allied entities.
Furthermore, sources have revealed that Congress has extended an offer of the Khajuraho seat in Madhya Pradesh to the Samajwadi Party.