The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) who have been flip-flopping over their proposed alliance for the past month, once again traded blame for the tie-up not materialising for Delhi and Haryana.

AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh on Saturday in a press conference confirmed that there will be no alliance between the AAP and the Congress in Delhi.

Advertisement

Sisodia also said that the Congress confirmed that there will be no talks on a tie-up in Haryana. “They are saying they are just not interested in any talks on Haryana,” he said.

Delhi Education Minister Sisodia also lashed out at the Congress for “wasting AAP’s time”.

“Congress wasted our time, it refused to ally in Haryana. Delhi does not have a single MLA or MP from Congress, but they want 4 out of 10 seats.”

He added that although AAP has four MPs and 20 MLAs in Punjab, it has not been given a single seat.

Speaking at the presser, Sisodia said the AAP’s aim in the coalition was to “bring down the Modi-Shah duo and not the division of seats”.

The party further questioned why the Congress wanted to keep alive the possibility of the BJP winning the polls.

It added that the Congress will be responsible if the BJP comes to power, a party, the AAP alleged had intended to divide the country and also humiliated martyrs like Hemant Karkare.

“Congress is totally stuck in the data of the seats, we are engaged in saving the country from the  Modi-Shah duo,” Sisodia said.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party has refuted the Congress’ claims and said that it was the grand old party which backed off from the alliance deal.

AAP leader Gopal Rai said, “Our aim is to put an end to this Hitler type regime. We had many discussions but it was Congress who backed off from the alliance deal. All these 18 seats are important and we are not being rigid. But, all that we are saying is we need to contest in Haryana together and we have offered the 7-2-1 formula to Congress.”

Earlier, Congress’ PC Chacko had said that the grand old party had come to a decision on an alliance with AAP, but the latter backtracked.

“They want an alliance with us in Haryana but we don’t want it. Why did they back out of Delhi alliance after they made a decision. So we have decided to field candidates in all 7 seats. If they want to rethink it is up to them.”

Earlier on Thursday, the AAP had said that there will be no alliance with the Congress in Haryana after the grand old party refused to have a tie-up in any other state apart from Delhi.

The AAP has been trying to form an alliance with the Congress since before the start of the Lok Sabha elections. The AAP is reportedly trying to push for 5 seats for itself in Delhi and 2 to Congress. It is also seeking an alliance in Haryana and Chandigarh but Congress is asserting that the pact should be for Delhi alone.

The AAP is contesting the upcoming polls in Haryana in alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP).

On 14 April, Kejriwal had again stated that he is open to weave an alliance with the Congress for the Lok Sabha elections to ensure the BJP’s defeat.

The BJP currently holds all 7 seats in Delhi, where elections are scheduled in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls on 12 May.