New Delhi: The ‘INDIA’ alliance is set to convene in Delhi today, which is an important moment before the Lok Sabha Elections. The alliance recently formed a coordination committee during a meeting held in Mumbai, and now its members are scheduled to gather in the capital city.
According to news agency PTI, the committee will delve into discussions concerning seat distribution and campaign strategy formulation, all in anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Comprising 14 members, this committee will assemble at the residence of NCP leader Sharad Pawar, a significant figure in the Indian political landscape.
PTI’s sources have divulged that various political leaders have been engaged in crafting a formula for seat sharing, indicating a concerted effort to present a united front in the elections.
However, even before the Coordination Committee’s meeting, signs of disunity have emerged. Following Punjab’s lead, the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have announced their intent to contest the elections independently in Haryana. This comes as a surprise, given earlier expectations of an agreement between AAP and Congress regarding seat distribution in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. This unexpected development raises questions about the alliance’s effectiveness when member parties cannot reach a consensus on seat allocation.
Ahead of the Coordination Committee meeting, Uddhav Thackeray met with NCP Chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai, hinting at the possibility of a forthcoming agreement involving Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress regarding the allocation of 48 seats in Maharashtra.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda asserted that Congress is fully capable of securing victories independently and intends to contest all 10 seats in the state during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Responding to inquiries about a potential alliance with AAP, Hooda emphasized the need for a solid rationale for seat allocation, referencing AAP’s forfeited deposit in the Adampur assembly by-election last year.
Meanwhile, AAP has expressed confidence in its preparations and announced plans to contest all 10 seats in Haryana without forming an alliance.
According to the report, the coordination committee is considering the possibility of involving third-party mediators, who would be senior leaders from alliance parties located outside the respective states. This approach aims to facilitate discussions, particularly in states like West Bengal, Delhi, and Punjab, where seat-sharing agreements are expected to require in-depth negotiations. In contrast, states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have well-established seat-sharing arrangements in place.
RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha shared on Monday that the coordination committee’s role will extend to endorsing decisions made in other committees and devising a comprehensive plan for future actions and campaign strategies.