AAP took a U-turn on tie-up talks: Rahul

There are fresh hurdles before the proposed AAP-Congress alliance in Delhi as Congress President Rahul Gandhi said here on Monday that AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal did a “U-turn” from the talks. However, keeping an option open, Gandhi added that the Congress’ doors are open. Replying to this, Kejriwal said he hasn’t taken any U-turn and the talks with the Congress are going on.

Sources within both the parties interpreted the tweets from both the leaders as “pressure tactics” for getting maximum benefit from the proposed alliance.

The Congress President said on Twitter that an alliance between the Congress and the AAP in Delhi would mean the rout of the BJP. “The Congress is willing to give up four Delhi seats to the the AAP to ensure this. But, Mr Kejriwal has done yet another U turn. Our doors are still open, but the time is running out,” Gandhi said.

‘Talks on’

Kejriwal said the talks are still on. “Your tweet shows that an alliance is not your desire but only a pretension. I am pained that you are giving mere statements,” he said.

“Today, the foremost issue is to save the country from the threat of Modi-Shah. Unfortunately, you are helping Modi by dividing anti-Modi votes in Uttar Pradesh and in some other States,” Kejriwal added.

A senior leader, who is aware of the discussions between both the parties said dialogue between leaders is still on. The AAP is keen on an alliance with the Congress in Haryana too.

The party has entered into a seat-sharing pact with Jannayak Janata Party the other day. “Out of the 10 seats, the JJP and the AAP are together demanding three seats.

The Congress is facing problems in Haryana. If they convince their leaders such as Bhupender Hooda, the Congress-AAP-JJP alliance will be a concrete one against the BJP,” the senior leader said. The AAP has apparently asked for a couple of seats in Punjab too. The State units of the Congress in Punjab and Haryana are against any alliance.

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