I.N.D.I.A Stumbles Over Another Hurdle As AAP Punjab Unit Refuses To Share Seats With Congress In State

Punjab minister Anmol Gagan Maan said that things could be different at the national level as all the parties have come together to save the country but in the state, AAP will not go with Congress.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

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In a setback to the I.N.D.I.A bloc, the Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party has refused to share seats with the Congress in Punjab. Punjab minister Anmol Gagan Maan said that things could be different at the national level as all the parties have come together to save the country from BJP but in the state, AAP will not go with Congress.     

"This is party leadership's call at national level. But we will not forge any alliance with the Congress in Punjab. Things could be different at the national level as all the parties (INDIA alliance) have come together to save the country from BJP. However, at state level, AAP will not go with  Congress. We will not tolerate any seat sharing with Congress in Punjab," said Maan, as quoted by news agency PTI.

VIDEO | "This is party leadership's call at national level. But we will not forge any alliance with the Congress in Punjab. Things could be different at the national level as all the parties (INDIA alliance) have come together to save the country from BJP. However, at state… pic.twitter.com/dehZOqlYdE

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 6, 2023

Earlier, Punjab leader of the opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa had said that there are strong reservations among the party leaders regarding alliance with AAP and the matter will be discussed with the party high command.  

Speaking to ANI, the Punjab leader of the opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa on Wednesday said, "We are going to discuss the entire matter with the party high command. We are going to discuss the matter with Kharge Ji and Rahul Ji, and only then we will come to any conclusion. There are strong reservations among the party leaders, and we need to discuss things with the party high command," he said.

The leaders of the Congress party in Punjab have strongly opposed an alliance with AAP under the INDIA bloc. The development came after Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced that the AAP would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state in an alliance with Congress under the INDIA bloc.

Meanwhile, PCC Chief Amrinder Raja Singh Warring held a series of meetings with district party presidents, MLAs, and an MP on Tuesday to get their feedback on Cheema's remarks. Speaking to ANI, Amarinder Singh Raja Wading said, "Today a meeting has been held with the leaders and district presidents of our party on the INDIA alliance and issues in which we have discussed the elections in Punjab in the coming days. He said that the High Command has told us to prepare to fight on 13 out of 13 seats, and we will fight on all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab."

He further said, "This is the party's internal issue; we will have discussions with our leadership. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have asked us to prepare to contest on all 13 Lok Sabha seats to fight against the government."