LS Polls: Kejriwal Confirms Advanced Talks For Delhi Tie-Up With Congress, Details To Be 'Shared Soon'

Kejriwal, when asked about the possibility of an alliance with Congress in Delhi, stated, "Alliance with them (Congress) will be announced very soon". 

File Photo Of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

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Arvind Kejriwal, the national convener of AAP and Chief Minister of Delhi, announced on Tuesday that discussions with the Congress for a Lok Sabha poll tie-up in the national capital were in their final stages, with the alliance expected to be formally announced soon.

Responding to queries during a press conference, Kejriwal dismissed the likelihood of AAP reconsidering its decision to independently contest parliamentary polls in Punjab. The AAP and Congress, partners in the Indian Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A), have been engaged in talks over a seat-sharing arrangement in Delhi and other states.

Kejriwal, when asked about the possibility of an alliance with Congress in Delhi, stated, "Alliance with them (Congress) will be announced very soon". 

He mentioned that discussions for other states had also progressed significantly, with several rounds of talks held, and decisions in advanced stages.

Previously, the AAP had indicated talks with the INDIA bloc for a pre-poll alliance in Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, and Goa.

Addressing the question of reconsidering AAP's solo decision in Punjab, Kejriwal assured, "Do not worry, that (contesting independently) is a strategy for victory". 

According to a PTI report, Sandeep Pathak, AAP's national general secretary, had earlier stated that the party proposed eight out of 26 Lok Sabha seats from Congress in Gujarat. Pathak argued that the AAP, securing five seats with 13% of the vote share in the last Assembly polls in Gujarat, deserved eight Lok Sabha seats for the upcoming polls, offering the remaining 18 to the Congress. In Delhi, the AAP offered one out of eight Lok Sabha seats to the Congress, highlighting its past election track record.

As of now, Congress holds zero Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Delhi.

The AAP has independently declared candidates for two seats each in Gujarat and Assam, and one in Goa. Pathak warned that if a decision on seat-sharing in Delhi was not reached soon, the party would proceed to declare its candidates.