In a significant political development, sources indicate that Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, is advocating for a potential alliance between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. During a meeting of the Congress’ Central Election Committee (CEC) held on Monday, Gandhi reportedly sought the opinions of key Haryana Congress leaders regarding this strategic move.
The meeting comes at a critical time as the Election Commission recently rescheduled the Haryana assembly poll date to October 5, citing the necessity to accommodate a centuries-old festival of the Bishnoi community. The Congress, aiming to reclaim power from the ruling BJP, is actively exploring various strategies, including alliances, to enhance its electoral prospects.
During the CEC meeting, the party finalized the names of 34 candidates for the Haryana polls. Deepak Babaria, AICC’s Haryana in-charge, stated that some names were sent to a review committee for further consideration. The committee, comprising the Haryana unit chief and the legislature party leader, will finalize the list based on the “winnability” of candidates. Notably, the name of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was among those approved by the committee.
Earlier this year, AAP’s national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that his party would contest all 90 seats in Haryana independently. However, the possibility of an alliance between Congress and AAP could alter the dynamics of the upcoming election, potentially forming a formidable opposition against the BJP.
As Haryana gears up for the October 5 polls, all eyes are on the Congress and its possible collaboration with AAP, a move that could significantly influence the state’s political landscape.
This potential alliance underscores the shifting alliances and strategies in Indian politics as parties seek to maximize their electoral success.