Guwahati: In a major blow to United Opposition in Assam, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday announced the names of candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in Assam for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
“Today we are announcing candidates for three Lok Sabha seats in Assam. Manoj Dhanover from Dibrugarh seat, Bhaben Chaudhary from Guwahati seat, Rishi Raj from Sonitpur will be the candidates of the AAP,” AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP and general secretary (organization) Sandeep Pathak told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday.
“We will start an election campaign on these three Lok Sabha seats as soon as possible,” Pathak said.
“We hope that the INDIA alliance will accept this and extend its support to the AAP candidates on these seats. We are fighters and we go to the polls not to fight but to win. The purpose of allying is to win the elections, that is why everything should happen in a time-bound manner,” he said.
Reacting to the AAP’s decision, Assam Pradesh Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Bora said, “It is their own decision. But from our side, we will try to continue our effort for an alliance till the withdrawal of nomination paper for the elections.”
“We have allied with 15 political parties in Assam to fight against BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2026 assembly elections. Our talks with continue,” Borah said.
“In some cases, state committees of the national political parties are dependent on the central committee’s decision. Our efforts for an alliance will also continue at the central level. I hope we will be able to fight jointly in the upcoming polls,” he added.
“We are happy with this announcement. We will fight for three seats and leave 11 others to other political parties. From today we will start our electioneering in these three constituencies,” said AAP, Assam state media coordinator Jayanta Kumar Kalita.
“It will have no impact on our united opposition alliance. Our alliance with Congress and other parties will continue,” Kalita added.
Pathak further said talks regarding seat sharing have been going on for a long time. He stressed on expediting the seat-sharing formula given the approaching polls.
“All things should be expedited. Talks have been going on for months but still, there is no result. We are with the INDIA bloc in fighting against the Modi government. All the decisions on alliance should be taken immediately,” he stressed.
“We must take this conversation to a conclusion as soon as possible. The AAP will remain a part of the India alliance with full honesty and strength,” Pathak further said.
“AAP will follow the dharma of alliance. The date of the Lok Sabha elections has almost been decided. A few months are left for the Lok Sabha elections, in such a short time we must prepare for the elections and contest the elections. We have allied to win the elections and to win the elections the names of the candidates will have to be announced,” he said.
“We are in talks regarding seat sharing in other states. I hope and request that this dialogue will be completed as soon as possible. If we keep talking only, then when will we contest elections,” he said.
Pathak further said while the party will go alone in Punjab, it is in talks regarding seat sharing in Delhi.
“We are a responsible and understanding partner of the INDIA alliance. For Punjab, the state units of the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress had agreed that both the parties would contest elections separately in the state. In Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party and Congress will contest Lok Sabha elections separately and there will be no alliance there,” he said.
Pathak expressed his desire for an early seat sharing as the Lok Sabha polls are nearing fast.
“The way the deadline for Lok Sabha elections has been fixed, the time limit for seat sharing should also be fixed in the same manner. Seat-sharing talks with the constituent parties of the INDIA alliance should be completed as soon as possible. The sooner the decision regarding seat sharing is taken, the sooner preparations for the elections can be started. India alliance will contest elections with full strength,” he added.