Sandeep Pathak, AAP MP and National General Secretary (Organization), expressed frustration over the prolonged discussions within the INDIA alliance.
The INDIA Opposition bloc has suffered another setback, this time in the Northeast. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced three candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, alleging delays in finalising seat-sharing arrangements with the Congress. The AAP is fielding Manoj Dhanowar in Dibrugarh, Bhaben Chaudhary in Guwahati, and Rishi Raj Kauntinya in Tezpur.
Currently, among the 14 MPs from Assam, nine belong to the BJP, three to Congress, one to the All India United Democratic Front, and one is an Independent.
Sandeep Pathak, AAP MP and National General Secretary (Organization), expressed frustration over the prolonged discussions within the INDIA alliance and stressed the importance of time and strategy in winning elections. He expressed the need for expedited decision-making as the elections draw nearer.
“Talks within the INDIA alliance have been going on for months. We are tired of talking now. We have to contest, and win, elections. There is no time. We are fully with the INDIA alliance and I hope that the alliance will allot these three seats to AAP,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.
Although the AAP has not previously contested any parliamentary or Assembly elections in Assam, it aligns itself with the INDIA bloc nationally and is a member of the United Opposition Forum alliance in Assam, comprising 15 parties.
The United Opposition Forum, established prior to the INDIA bloc, had pledged to nominate consensus candidates for all 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam. However, none of the other alliance parties, including Congress, TMC, RJD, CPI(M), CPI, and regional parties such as Akhil Gogoi’s Raijor Dal and Lurinjyoti Gogoi’s Assam Jatiya Parishad, has yet announced their candidates in the state.
In the meantime, Assam Congress sources indicated no objection to AAP contesting from Guwahati, but also stressing that the final decision on seat-sharing rests with the central leadership.
Unlike in other states where INDIA allies are often political rivals, the Congress and AAP units maintain amicable relations. This was evident when the Assam unit of AAP participated in Rahul Gandhi”s ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
AAP leaders reiterated the party”s willingness to support alliance candidates in the remaining 11 seats, reaffirming their commitment to the INDIA alliance.
“It is not like we are going against the INDIA alliance. We are choosing to contest in just three seats… We will support the other parties’ candidates in all the other 11 seats,” Pathak emphasised.
However, this development in Assam adds to the challenges facing the Congress, particularly after several regional forces raised concerns about the delay in finalising seat-sharing agreements.
Mamata Banerjee”s Trinamool Congress is already contesting alone in West Bengal after the state Congress declined their offer for two seats. Similarly, in Punjab, AAP leader and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced preparations to contest all 13 seats. Uttar Pradesh also presents challenges, with the Samajwadi Party announcing 11 candidates amid ongoing discussions with the Congress.
