'Priority Is To Defeat BJP': Rahul Gandhi Draws AAP Applause Amid Haryana Alliance Buzz

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has welcomed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s idea of an AAP-Congress alliance in Haryana ahead of the elections for the 90-member state assembly.

Reacting positively to the proposition of the Leader of the Opposition of Lok Sabha, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, “We welcome it. Our priority is to defeat the BJP. Our Haryana in-charge Sandeep Pathak and Sushil Gupta will discuss it and take a final decision and inform Arvind Kejriwal about it and a decision will be taken accordingly.”

According to reports, during a Congress Central Election Committee meeting focused on Haryana, Rahul Gandhi inquired about the possibility and benefits of forming an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state. According to party sources, Gandhi is keen on exploring a coalition with AAP for the upcoming elections and he has sought feedback from senior AAP leaders.

Meanwhile, AAP Haryana President Sushil Gupta said the party was preparing to fight from all 90 seats.

“We are having meetings in every assembly, we are continuously organising programmes. Aam Aadmi Party is fighting to form a majority government, to change the system, to overthrow the arrogant and dictatorial government of BJP,” he said.

When asked about an alliance with the Congress in Haryana, he said, “This decision will be taken by the high command.”

BJP Reacts

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it did not have much to worry about as alliances between the AAP and Congress had not succeeded before.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said, “Overall, it is a political statement from Rahul Gandhi. We have seen in Delhi that the alliance between the AAP and Congress did not succeed. No matter how much they try, the people of Delhi and the country have already recognized these faces and will not be deceived by them any longer”

Congress’ poll preps

The Congress’ Central Election Committee met here on Monday and finalised the names of 34 candidates for the assembly polls in Haryana.

The AICC in-charge of Haryana, Deepak Babaria, said a final list would be released by Wednesday.

He said the grand old party will decide on fielding star wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday.

Haryana polls

The Election Commission on Saturday deferred the Haryana assembly poll date to October 5 from October 1, saying the decision was taken keeping in mind a centuries-old festival of the Bishnoi community.

The counting of votes for Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana assembly polls will now be held on October 8 instead of October 4, the poll body said.

It has been a practice of the EC to hold the counting of votes on the same day for assemblies which go to polls together as the results of one state could affect trends in others.

Before the revision of the date, the Haryana polls were to be held along with the third and last phase of the Jammu and Kashmir elections.

The decision to postpone the Haryana elections has been taken to honour both the voting rights and traditions of the Bishnoi community which has upheld a 300-400-year-old practice in remembrance of their Guru Jambheshwar, the EC said.

It said it had received a representation from the national president of the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, Bikaner, Rajasthan for rescheduling the Haryana assembly elections.