Congress, AAP Won't Ally for State Polls, Says Ramesh

New Delhi: The possibility of an alliance between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming Assembly polls in Haryana and Delhi appears limited, said AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh. However, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc will contest elections together in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, Ramesh stated on Thursday.

Ramesh clarified that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc does not have a uniform strategy for state elections. The alliance will fight together in states where Congress leaders and other partners agree on such an arrangement.

"There is no I.N.D.I.A.'janbandhan' in Punjab. In Haryana, we had given one seat to AAP in the Lok Sabha polls, but I don't think that I.N.D.I.A. janbandhan will be there for Assembly polls. In Delhi, AAP has itself said that I.N.D.I.A. janbandhan will not be there for Assembly polls," Ramesh said.

The Congress and AAP had collaborated during the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi but contested separately in Punjab. Ramesh reiterated that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc is primarily for Lok Sabha elections, and state-level alliances will depend on local circumstances and agreements between state leaders and alliance partners.

"In Maharashtra, the alliance will include Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SCP). In Jharkhand, we have an alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha," he added.

Regarding potential alliances in Haryana and Delhi, Ramesh noted, "There does not appear to be much scope (for an alliance) in Delhi and Haryana."

Last month, AAP's Delhi state convener Gopal Rai indicated that the party's alliance with Congress was solely for the Lok Sabha elections, suggesting that AAP may contest the next year's Assembly polls in Delhi independently.

Ramesh said that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc partners are united in Parliament, supported by the BJD in the Rajya Sabha. He remarked on the unique position of the YSRC, stating, "Their soul is with I.N.D.I.A. but their body is with Narendra Modi."

Jharkhand, Haryana, and Maharashtra are set to hold elections later this year, while Delhi's Assembly elections are scheduled for early next year.