New Delhi: Talks between Congress and AAP for a tie-up in Haryana collapsed, with Arvind Kejriwal’s outfit declaring candidates for 20 seats, including 12 for which Congress has already announced its nominees.
AAP’s decision came after Congress cold shouldered its demand for at least 10 of the 90 seats. Congress never agreed to give more than 4-5 and there, too, insisted that AAP field candidates in urban seats identified by AICC.
Although the two sides seemed reluctant to acknowledge the failure of negotiations, the outcome, as signified by AAP's declaration of 20 candidates, surprised few. The decision of the two parties to have a tie-up pulled against their public declarations that their alliance was limited to the Lok Sabha polls. Congress, seemingly hopeful of a comeback in Haryana after a decade in opposition, had even started playing the opposition in Delhi by demanding action in the excise scam.
Congress’s state unit, in particular, opposed the idea of a tie-up as it was dismissive of AAP’s claim to be a “force” in Haryana and had conveyed its stance to the central leadership, which was keen on an alliance for the sake of sending a message of larger opposition unity.
Although the two sides’ reluctance to announce the demise of talks appeared leave the door ajar for a last-minute twist, the parties were already preparing to contest separately.
