Final talks on AAP and Congress seat sharing in Delhi will shortly be announced

The ongoing negotiations regarding a potential alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Delhi are reaching a decisive juncture. With seven Lok Sabha seats at stake in Delhi, reliable sources suggest that an agreement may soon be reached wherein the AAP would contend for four seats while the Congress would vie for three seats.

The discussions surrounding this alliance have garnered significant attention, prompting leaders from both the Congress and AAP factions in Delhi to convene at the Chief Minister's residence for deliberations on Thursday evening.

During interactions with the media outside the Chief Minister's residence, Arvinder Singh Lovely, the Delhi unit president of the Congress, underscored the strong partnership between the AAP and Congress within the INDIA bloc. He hinted at the alliance's potential expansion beyond Delhi to encompass national electoral contests. Lovely assured that official details regarding the alliance would be disseminated to the media imminently.

Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Atishi expressed optimism about the imminent finalization of the alliance within Delhi. She anticipated a joint official announcement from both parties in the coming days, signaling the culmination of negotiations.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal organized an all-party meeting at his residence on Thursday to deliberate on the issue of water bill waivers in Delhi. Notable attendees included Arvinder Singh Lovely and former minister Haroon Yusuf from the Congress, along with AAP representatives Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, Atishi, and MLA Somnath Bharti. Although an invitation was extended to BJP leader of opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, the BJP abstained from the meeting, citing a lack of clarity regarding the meeting's agenda.

During the meeting, Kejriwal denounced the BJP's absence as indicative of their opposition to the proposed ‘One-Time Settlement Scheme’. This scheme aims to alleviate the financial burden on numerous Delhi residents. Kejriwal emphasized the need to expose the BJP's alleged political maneuvering and reiterated the Delhi government's commitment to considering constructive suggestions from all parties.

Following the meeting, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely jointly addressed the media. Bharadwaj highlighted the Delhi government's efforts to introduce policies aimed at addressing water bill issues, despite purported hindrances from BJP-affiliated officers. Lovely lamented the BJP's non-participation in discussions centered on public welfare and reaffirmed Congress's unwavering support for measures aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by Delhi residents. He emphasized the nonpartisan nature of issues concerning public welfare, asserting that the welfare of Delhi's citizens should transcend political affiliations.