AAP 4, Cong 3: Parties set to seal poll pact for Delhi

AS PART OF THE DEAL, CONGRESS IS LIKELY TO OFFER TWO SEATS TO AAP IN GUJARAT AND ONE IN HARYANA

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is likely to contest four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and leave the remaining three to its ally, the Congress, as part of a seat-sharing agreement between the two INDIA bloc partners, people aware of the matter said on Thursday.

The pact which is likely to be formally announced on Friday - will be the first such alliance between the two erstwhile rivals and the second big agreement clinched in the beleaguered Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) after an arrangement between the Congress and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

As part of the pact, the Congress is also likely to offer two seats to the AAP in Gujarat likely to be Bharuch and Bhavnagar and one in Haryana, said the people quoted above, requesting anonymity. But indications that the Bharuch seat might go to the AAP triggered dissent in the Congress.

Citing the discussions between the two sides, a Congress leader said an agreement was reached on the seats to be contested by the two parties. The Congress may contest East Delhi, Chandni Chowk and North East Delhi seats, while the AAP may contest New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and North West Delhi seats, said a Congress leader.

All seven seats are currently held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2019, the Congress came second in five seats - East Delhi, West Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi and Chandani Chowk - and the AAP came second in two seats -North West Delhi and South Delhi.

Both parties declined to formally respond on the seat pact. "The talks are on and we are hopeful of closing the deal," Delhi minister Atishi said.