In the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a significant development unfolded as the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) initiated discussions regarding seat-sharing, marking a potential shift in the political landscape. The talks, although inconclusive in their first round, set a positive tone for a joint electoral venture between the two parties.
Mukul Wasnik, a prominent Congress leader, announced the intention to contest the upcoming elections in collaboration with AAP, emphasizing their united front against the BJP. Despite the initial inconclusiveness, both sides engaged in comprehensive discussions covering various aspects crucial for the elections. The decision on seat allocation remains pending until further rounds of talks.
Representatives from AAP, including Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, and Delhi cabinet ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj participated in the meeting. On the Congress side, the delegation comprised former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, and senior party leaders Salman Khurshid, Mohan Prakash, and Wasnik.
While the parties have historically been rivals, particularly in Delhi and Punjab, where AAP holds the government, the Congress faces internal resistance in compromising on its state units’ political interests. Sandeep Dikshit, Congress leader and son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, emphasized their concerns regarding conflicts with AAP within the Delhi government. He highlighted the necessity of aligning their interests and swiftly finalizing alliance details if a partnership were to materialize.
Earlier clashes between the two parties added complexity to their ongoing negotiations. Months prior, AAP threatened to distance itself from the INDIA bloc following remarks made by a Delhi Congress leader asserting the party’s strong intent to contest all seven seats in the national capital. AAP’s subsequent threat of boycotting the INDIA bloc meeting led senior Congress leaders to intervene, diffusing the situation.
In Punjab, the Congress, having lost power to AAP in the previous assembly elections, exhibits reluctance in playing a secondary role to Kejriwal’s party. Despite the Congress’s success in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections with 8 out of 13 seats, and AAP’s solitary win, the landscape shifted dramatically in the subsequent state assembly polls, where AAP secured a commanding victory with 92 out of 117 seats, reducing the Congress to a mere 18 seats.
Punjab’s Congress leaders are wary of conceding the opposition’s space by forging an alliance with AAP, particularly with the BJP making strides to expand its presence in the state post their separation from the Akali Dal over farmer bills.
This evolving political scenario underscores the intricate dynamics between the Congress and AAP, reflecting a delicate balance between state interests and national alliances. The potential collaboration carries ramifications not only for the electoral landscape but also for the overall political narrative, especially in Delhi and Punjab. As negotiations continue, both parties navigate the complexities of aligning their strategies while addressing internal and external challenges, shaping the trajectory of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.