New Delhi, February 13 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Offers Congress 1 Seat in Delhi for the upcoming Loksabha elections elections in 2024 by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a move that suggests pressure within the opposition INDIA Bloc. The previous reports that suggested a 3–4 seat distribution formula between the two parties are significantly less than this offer.
AAP claims its decision is based on merit, citing Congress’s lack of recent electoral success in Delhi, with zero seats in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha and only nine out of 250 in the MCD elections. However, AAP emphasizes “alliance dharma” and “respect for Congress” as reasons for offering one seat.
Punjab में दोनों पार्टी के State Leaders अलग-अलग चुनाव लड़ना चाहते हैं
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 13, 2024
हमने तय किया है कि पंजाब में दोनों पार्टियां अलग चुनाव लड़ेंगी
Chandigarh-Haryana और बाक़ी जगहों पर जल्द बात होनी चाहिए
- @SandeepPathak04 pic.twitter.com/9SGCSKPSO8
Key Points of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Press Conference :
- AAP’s Offer: AAP proposes a 6:1 seat-sharing formula in Delhi, offering Congress one seat and claiming six for themselves.
- Justification: AAP cites Congress’s lack of recent electoral success in Delhi (zero seats in Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and only nine in MCD elections) as reasoning for the limited offer.
- Conditional Offer: AAP emphasizes “alliance dharma” and “respect for Congress” as reasons for offering any seat at all, but stresses the conditional nature of the offer based on finalizing seat-sharing talks.
- Candidate Announcement: AAP refrains from announcing Delhi candidates immediately, waiting on the outcome of seat-sharing discussions.
#WATCH | Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh | On INDIA Alliance seat sharing for Lok Sabha elections, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh says, "...I admit that there has been a slight delay. But this is a difficult task because we are contesting against a few… pic.twitter.com/nmEPQCs56y
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024
Reactions and Implications :
- AAP : expresses disappointment at the lack of progress in seat-sharing talks with Congress, indicating potential frustration within the alliance.
- Congress: On INDIA Alliance seat sharing for Lok Sabha elections, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh says, “…I admit that there has been a slight delay. But this is a difficult task because we are contesting against a few parties at the state level. INDIA Alliance is for the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. In Delhi and Punjab, we are contesting against the AAP. But we are united at the national level – that we have to defeat the BJP. Resolving these matters is taking a little time. I agree that this should been done earlier, but there were some difficulties. There is no issue with DMK, NCP, Shiv Sena and Samajwadi Party. Difficulty is when it comes to West Bengal and Punjab. Our organisation wants to contest on more number of seats here, AAP and TMC want the same. A middle path would be found and within a few days, seat-sharing will be given its final form.”
- Observers: View this development as a setback for the INDIA bloc, raising concerns about their ability to present a unified opposition against the BJP.
- Possible Scenarios:
- Congress accepts the likely scenario, but it may lead to resentment within both parties due to the perceived unfairness of the offer.
- Congress rejects: This could lead to the collapse of the INDIA bloc in Delhi, potentially impacting its national presence.
- Further negotiations: There is potential for a compromise, but time is running out with elections approaching.
- Broader Impact: This incident brings attention to the difficulties opposition alliances in India face and raises concerns about how successful they will be in opposing the BJP, which holds sway.
- AAP’s announcement of candidates in Gujarat and Goa puts Congress in jeopardy in these states, which intensifies tensions and complicates alliance talks.
