Don’t need alliance with AAP in Punjab: Capt to Rahul
Tuesday, 08/01/2019
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/don-t-need-alliance-with-aap-in-punjab-capt-to-rahul/709956.html
New Delhi : Congress president Rahul Gandhi is expected to discuss potential alliances with state unit leaders and party’s core committee members at a meeting here on January 9. Ahead of the meeting, he met Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, AICC state in-charge Asha Kumari and PCC chief Sunil Jakhar in the capital to take stock of election preparations in Punjab.
All three told The Tribune that the issue of alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab was not discussed. Nor was it part of the agenda. They, however, said the Punjab Congress had conveyed to the leadership earlier that it was not in favour of a truck with AAP.
Punjab leaders today put the ball in Rahul Gandhi’s court with Amarinder Singh saying the final decision rested with the high command, depending on the national perspective and electoral compulsions.
“The issue of alliance with AAP didn’t come up today. But our stand on this has been clear for long and was conveyed to the Congress leadership much earlier. Punjab Congress doesn’t want any alliance with the defunct AAP in Punjab. We will win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state. That said, a final decision would be taken by the Congress high command,” Singh said, leaving the door ajar for an alliance, should the central leadership feel the need for it to keep the BJP out in 2019.
The buzz is that AAP convener and Delhi CM is seeking a quid pro quo. Jakhar said, "As a state unit we are not in favour of aligning with AAP. But the final decision on the 2019 strategy will be that of the Congress president." Asha Kumari reiterated the same.
