The I.N.D.I.A bloc partners, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, reached a seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, according to the sources. The AAP will compete for four seats, while the Congress will field candidates in three. Both parties will make a formal declaration together in a press conference scheduled at 11:30 am today. Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh pointed out at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, and stated that "our doors are open for TMC."
Speaking with media, Ramesh stated: "Mamata Banerjee and TMC have said that they want to strengthen INDIA Alliance and the biggest motive is to defeat the BJP. Heated discussions keep taking place between the two parties but we respect Mamata Banerjee."
In the upcoming general assembly elections, AAP candidates will compete in New Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi, and East Delhi, while Congress candidates will represent Chandni Chowk, North East Delhi, and North West Delhi, according to the sources.
While in Haryana, Congress will compete in 9 seats, while AAP will fight from one seat, i.e. Kurukshetra. In Gujarat, AAP candidates will represent Bharuch, and Bhavnagar, with Congress candidates contesting from 24 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.
On alliance with AAP, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said: “The important thing is that an official announcement has been made for the alliance (in UP). It took time to give it a final form. Today, the AAP and Congress are also making official announcements about the alliance. It was being said again and again that Congress is lazy and not interested but I always said that it takes time."