Finally, Things Start Moving For The I.N.D.I.A Alliance
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2024-02-26 03:35:22
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack
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The Trinamool Congress had been the first I.N.D.I.A alliance affiliate to vehemently oppose any seat-sharing agreement with the Congress in Bengal (why it did so will be explained in a separate article soon). At that time, the AAP had followed TMC's lead and the same template to declare that it will not have any truck with the Congress in Punjab and Delhi.
Since then, AAP has become more flexible and although it has not yielded space in Punjab, after the legal victory in the Supreme Court in the Chandigarh mayoral elections case, the two parties have quickly agreed on seat-sharing deals in Delhi, Goa, Gujarat and Haryana. AAP has even agreed to leave three seats in Delhi for the Congress and will contest only four seats.
This is a major positive development for the beleaguered I.N.D.I.A bloc. After that, Akhilesh Yadav also sealed the seat-sharing deal in UP, leaving as many as 17 seats for the Congress with the SP contesting in the remaining 63. This will come as a shot in the arm for the Congress and will also bring the sputtering opposition alliance back on track.
While on the face of it this will look like a climb-down by the AAP but it is a calculated move by the party to both protect its regional fiefs and expand its national footprint. AAP's priorities are different than the TMC's which has not really succeeded in making a mark outside Bengal and hence does not have to negotiate seat-sharing deals in other states. AAP has invested heavily (and has also got results) in Gujarat and Haryana and it spots an opportunity in getting its first wins in these states if its nominee is the joint opposition candidate.
In Delhi, AAP has succeeded in assembly and local elections but has never won a single Lok Sabha seat. Hence, it makes sense to consolidate opposition votes and give a tough fight to the BJP as the Congress also has loyal following in Delhi. Overall, it is a calculated move on AAP's part that is likely to benefit both the party and the opposition alliance.
