Hyderabad, In the wake of upcoming legislative assembly elections in five states, there’s a buzz in the political corridors.
At the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Hyderabad on 16-17 September, some Congress leaders expressed their wish to negotiate seat-sharing with the allies of the I.N.D.I.A coalition post these elections.
Background and Rationale
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According to news agency PTI, most of the leaders who made this request hail from states where Congress is in direct competition with other parties from the I.N.D.I.A coalition.
They are optimistic about Congress’s performance in these five state elections and believe that a strong showing will provide them with a better bargaining position during seat-sharing discussions.
Elections are expected by the end of this year in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram.
The Election Commission has yet to announce the dates, but it’s speculated that they will be disclosed in the upcoming month.
Internal Dynamics in Hyderabad
Several leaders, including the former Union Minister Ajay Maken, spokesperson Alka Lamba, and Pratap Singh Bajwa from Delhi and Punjab, showed displeasure towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). They accused the AAP of targeting their leaders, causing harm to the party.
Ajay Maken pointed out that AAP is announcing their election campaigns in those states where Congress has a strong chance of forming the government. He said AAP is targeting Congress leaders there, and this needs to stop.
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The Congress leadership in Punjab, represented by Amarinder Singh Raja Wading, stated their unwillingness to form an alliance with AAP in Punjab due to the continuous attacks on their leaders by AAP.
However, Congress high command has indicated further discussions on this matter. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge assured that discussions about seat sharing with other parties would be held after consulting state units.
I.N.D.I.A coalition aims to present a united front against the NDA in every Lok Sabha constituency.
However, they’re facing challenges in states like Punjab, Delhi, Kerala, and West Bengal, where consensus on seat-sharing is elusive.
Arvind Kejriwal of AAP and Akhilesh Yadav of SP wish for a finalized seat distribution by the end of September.
In the meeting, the party leadership emphasized strengthening both Congress and the I.N.D.I.A coalition.
Some leaders voiced their concerns, stating that in the process of bolstering the I.N.D.I.A coalition, the Congress party should not be compromised.
Recent Updates from Hyderabad
Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a public gathering in Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad, on 17th September, promised various benefits to the people of Telangana.
He gave six guarantees, including providing every woman with 2500 rupees monthly under the Mahalakshmi scheme and offering gas cylinders at 500 rupees.
Other promises include free travel for women in government buses and 200 free units of electricity for every citizen.
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