Over the past few days, there were discussions between Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party regarding an alliance for the Haryana elections. The focus was on seat-sharing, with the belief that the unity of the INDIA Bloc post-Lok Sabha elections would continue into state elections. However, on Monday, AAP released a list of 20 candidates. In this list, 11 candidates will be challenging Congress candidates.
According to AAP sources, the names of candidates were selected based on ground-level surveys and their chances of winning. AAP believes these candidates are strong contenders against both BJP and Congress.
Trust in Core Workers
When the talks with Congress failed, AAP released its first list of 20 candidates for the Haryana elections on Monday. In its first list, AAP prioritized its core workers with strong grassroots connections rather than choosing them based on caste. No defectors were included in this list by AAP.
Read also: Pressure on Congress or Separation? AAP Fields 20 Candidates in Haryana Assembly Elections
The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Anurag Dhanda from Kalayat, Gurpal Singh from Narayangarh, former Minister Narendra Sharma from Pundri, Jaipal Sharma from Gharaunda, Amandeep Jundla from Asandh, Bittu Pahlwan from Samalkha, Pawan Fauji from Uchana Kalan, and Kuldeep Gadrana from Dabwali. Additionally, Happy Rania from Rania, Indu Sharma from Bhiwani, Vikas Nehra from Meham, Bijendra Hooda from Rohtak, Kuldeep Chhikara from Bahadurgarh, Ranbir Gulia from Badli, Sonu Ahlawat Sheria from Beri, Manish Yadav from Mahendragarh, Ravindra Matru from Narnaul, Veer Singh Sarpanch from Sohna, Dharmendra Khatana from Sohna, and Ravindra Faujdar from Ballabgarh are in the fray.
Notable Names on the List
- Senior AAP State Vice President Anurag Dhanda, who has a background in journalism. - Narendra Sharma, who has previously served as the Irrigation Minister of Haryana and was a minister in the INLD government in 1999. He later contested as an independent candidate. - Manish Yadav, a doctor with an MD in forensic medicine and associated with health services. - Ravindra Singh Matru, a social worker. - Happy Rania, who has been associated with farmers. - Jaipal Sharma, who has a long-standing association with politics and previously contested as an independent in 2005 and 2009.
AAP has fielded its candidates from 11 constituencies where Congress has already declared its candidates. These constituencies include Uchana Kalan, Meham, Badshahpur, Narayangarh, Samalkha, Dabwali, Rohtak, Bahadurgarh, Badli, Beri, and Mahendragarh.
How Alliance Talks Fell Apart
Let’s dive into how the alliance talks fell apart. During a meeting on the Haryana elections, Rahul Gandhi agreed to an alliance with AAP. Subsequently, AAP expressed interest in the alliance too. Multiple rounds of discussions were held between AAP MP Raghav Chadha and Haryana Congress in-charge Deepak Babaria regarding the alliance formula.
Read also: Haryana Assembly Elections: Rajesh June leaves Congress after not receiving a ticket, will contest as an independent candidate
According to sources, the biggest obstacle was the demand for seats. AAP demanded around 10 seats, while Congress offered 3 to 5 seats. The seats demanded by AAP were not agreed upon by Congress. After several rounds of discussions, Congress agreed to give 5 seats, but all those seats are strongholds of the BJP, meaning the chance of winning even with the alliance was slim.
Moreover, local leadership of both Congress and AAP were against the alliance. AAP made it clear that if the alliance doesn’t happen, they are ready to field candidates in all 90 seats. Congress’s local leaders also opposed the alliance with AAP.
