No clarity yet on Delhi alliance...

NEW DELHI: Despite protracted talks, AAP and Congress appear to be no closer to securing an alliance in Delhi for LS polls. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Sunday stated that the party was not in talks for any tie-up in Haryana and Punjab. This came a day after AAP made it clear that a pact in Haryana was a pre-requisite for an alliance in Delhi.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi Congress in-charge P C Chacko had met last week and while the talks had remained inconclusive, the fact that the two sides had come together had fuelled speculation that a tie-up was “almost finalised”.While Congress has been asking for three seats in Delhi, AAP is willing to part with only two, besides demanding that the pact be extended to Haryana.
On Friday, AAP poured cold water over claims that a 4:3 formula had been agreed upon, claiming that the party would give Congress as many seats in the capital as it got in Haryana. Sources in AAP stated that the party was looking for Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Karnal. In return, it would back Congress in Chandigarh. Amid the talks, the move by Congress to exclude the demand of statehood for Delhi from its manifesto added fuel to fire. An AAP source later claimed that Congress had agreed to amend its manifesto to include the promise of statehood. But the excitement soon fizzled out with Congress issuing an official denial.
AAP feels that Congress is not justified in seeking three seats in Delhi when it doesn’t have a single MLA there while refusing to concede any in Punjab where AAP has 20 MLAs and four MPs.
On Saturday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had met Delhi unit chief Sheila Dikshit at his residence and, according to sources, given his nod for an alliance. However, no formal announcement was made. After the meeting with Gandhi, Dikshit had gone into a huddle with party leaders. She, however, refused to comment on what transpired at the meeting. Sources, however, claimed that the party was preparing to contest from New Delhi and Chandni Chowk even as it continued talks on securing either west or northwest. Names of probable candidates were also reportedly discussed.
Despite Surjewala’s statement, a Congress source said the alliance would be firmed up before April 11 when the party’s election committee meets to finalise candidates. “We are still in discussion with AAP. We have some issues with the constituencies they are offering us but hope to sort it out in the next two days,” a senior party leader said.