Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has initiated discussions on a potential alliance between the Congress party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections scheduled for October 5. This possibility was raised during a recent meeting of the Congress's Central Election Committee (CEC), where Rahul Gandhi sought the opinions of key Haryana Congress leaders on the strategic merits of such an alliance. The idea is rooted in the belief that a united front could bolster the chances of defeating the incumbent BJP government in the state.
This move comes against the backdrop of previous collaborations between Congress and AAP during the Lok Sabha polls in several states, including Haryana, Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, and Chandigarh. The two parties had joined forces in these regions to counter the BJP's influence, a strategy that Rahul Gandhi may see as beneficial to replicate at the state level in Haryana. However, the potential alliance is not without its challenges.
Internally, the idea of joining forces with AAP has faced significant resistance from some senior Congress leaders in Haryana. Last month, Kumari Selja, a prominent Congress leader and former Union Minister, publicly ruled out the possibility of an alliance with AAP for the Haryana Assembly polls. She emphasized that the Congress party is a formidable force in the state and should go into the elections independently, relying on its own strength and grassroots support.
Adding to the complexity, AAP's national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier declared that his party would contest all 90 seats in the Haryana Assembly on its own. Kejriwal's confidence in AAP's ability to make inroads into Haryana's political landscape stems from the party's growing influence in neighboring Delhi and Punjab. This declaration initially seemed to close the door on any potential alliance with Congress, but Rahul Gandhi's latest overtures suggest that the situation may still be fluid.
Within the Congress, key figures such as former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who wields considerable influence in the state, and current state Congress chief Uday Bhan, are expected to play crucial roles in determining the party's approach to the upcoming elections. Hooda, known for his stronghold in the Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency, is likely to be fielded from there once again, while Uday Bhan may contest from Hodal. Their positions on the alliance with AAP could significantly impact the final decision.
As the Haryana Assembly elections approach, the stakes are incredibly high. With 90 Assembly seats up for grabs, the outcome could reshape the state's political landscape. The Congress party's internal deliberations on whether to align with AAP are ongoing, and the final decision will be pivotal in shaping the party's electoral strategy. Should the alliance materialize, it could present a formidable challenge to the BJP, potentially altering the dynamics of the election and the broader political scenario in Haryana.
In the meantime, Rahul Gandhi’s push for this alliance reflects his broader strategy of building coalitions to maximize the opposition's strength against the BJP. The coming weeks will be crucial as the Congress leadership weighs the pros and cons of this potential alliance, considering both the immediate electoral gains and the long-term implications for the party’s standing in Haryana and beyond. The decision will not only influence the election results but also signal the Congress party's approach to coalition politics in other states as it prepares for the 2024 general elections.
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