A few months before the Lok Sabha elections, the path for Congress is not looking easy. Actually, before the elections, the opposition parties have formed an alliance which has been named ‘India’ (Indian National Democratic Inclusive Alliance). The alliance is currently discussing seat distribution in the states. Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), members of the ‘India’ alliance of 28 opposition parties, are scheduled to meet in the capital Delhi on Friday to discuss seat sharing, which is being watched closely to jointly take on the BJP.
According to the news circulating in the media quoting sources, the discussion regarding seat sharing between AAP and Congress will be held at the residence of senior Congress leader Mukul Wasnik. Let us discuss here that the leaders of both the parties had held a meeting at Wasnik’s residence last week to discuss the issue of seat sharing but had refused to hold concrete talks. The said meeting lasted for about two and a half hours in which it was discussed that AAP would contest elections in alliance with Congress in five states including Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Goa and Delhi.
Raghav Chadha can attend today’s meeting
If reports are to be believed, AAP has expressed its desire to contest elections on four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi in alliance with Congress. Congress is keen to contest elections from North East Delhi, Chandni Chowk and New Delhi parliamentary seats. In the first meeting with Congress leaders, AAP was represented by its national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak and ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj. However, after this meeting, no leader seemed to be avoiding saying anything. AAP’s Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha was absent in the first meeting but he can participate in today’s meeting.
It should be noted that in the Lok Sabha elections 2019, BJP had won all the seven seats of Delhi. At the same time, Congress had got 8 seats in Punjab. The Akali-BJP alliance had to be content with four seats while AAP had to be content with only one seat. However, when the last Lok Sabha elections were held, there was a Congress government in Punjab. This time there is AAP government in Punjab.
Congress tension increased in Bengal
Meanwhile, a big news is coming out from West Bengal. According to media reports, the possibility of seat sharing between Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state seems to be decreasing. TMC indicated that it will not meet the five-member National Alliance Committee of Congress. According to the news going on in the media quoting TMC sources, Mamata Banerjee’s party has already informed Congress about its proposal. It is noteworthy that the Congress panel includes veteran leaders like Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel, Mukul Wasnik, Salman Khurshid and Mohan Prakash.