Haryana Elections: Why Cong-AAP alliance talks failed? Deepender Hooda reveals

Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda on Sunday revealed why the party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were unable to form a coalition ahead of the Haryana state assembly elections.

In an exclusive interview to HT’s Kumkum Chadha, Hooda said, “AAP’s presence in Haryana is limited. They have made efforts to expand their presence here. AAP failed to make a mark in the elections. They failed to get any vote share, but still we gave them one seat in the Lok Sabha elections.”

“Before the assembly elections, we had a formal discussion with them. We wanted to merge them (AAP). We proposed to them, in our opinion, it was a fair equation. But while our discussion with AAP was going on, they announced all their candidates,” the Congress leader said.

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“In Haryana in general, we tried to form an alliance. But on the ground, the Congress is capable of doing it alone. It will not affect our electoral prospects,” Hooda added.

Congress MP Deepender Hooda

Was former External Affairs Minister Bhupinder Hooda reluctant to form an alliance with AAP?

During the interview, Deepender Hooda was asked whether his father Bhupinder Singh Hooda, now the Leader of the Opposition, was reluctant to join hands with the AAP.

The Congress leader replied, “No, that is not the right impression. Rahul Gandhi wanted to adapt, as did some of the alliance partners. The state Congress unit was very open-minded. That is why we had those talks. I think towards the end, AAP for some reason, while the talks were going on, finally announced their candidates. We had no problems with AAP.”

“During the Lok Sabha elections, the state unit was happy to give them one seat. Otherwise, AAP does not have that much presence to get one seat in the Lok Sabha,” he added.

“Even in the elections to the legislative assembly, any fair number of seats could be achieved and was fully acceptable to the state unit.

Is there infighting in the Haryana State Congress unit?

Deepender Hooda has denied rumours of infighting in the Haryana State Congress unit ahead of the elections.

“The Congress is absolutely united under the leadership of Kharge ji, Rahul ji and Sonia ji. From one corner to the other of Haryana, one can find the echo of the united Congress. During the Lok Sabha elections, the same analysis was given about the Congress being a divided house. But after the results were announced, it is clear that party workers were fighting under the central leadership with ideology and under the state leadership of Uday Bhan ji and Hooda ji,” the Congress leader said.