'They are BJP's B team': Congress leader on alliance with AAP in Haryana elections

NEW DELHI: As Haryana prepares for the upcoming assembly elections, the state's Congress leader, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, has ruled out any possibility of an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing it of being aligned with the BJP.
"AAP is the B team of BJP, and we will never form an alliance with them (for Haryana polls). We will surely win in Haryana and our alliance will also emerge victorious in Jammu and Kashmir," Randhawa said on Wednesday.

The comment comes amid reports of failed alliance talks between Congress and AAP in Haryana. Congress is now focusing on contesting the elections independently, aiming for a decisive victory.
Earlier this month, Haryana AAP vice president Anurag Dhanda affirmed the party's readiness and said, "We are prepared to contest all 90 seats. The final decision on any potential alliance will be made by the high command, and we will follow Arvind Kejriwal’s direction."

Dhanda at a public rally in Meham Chaubisi highlighted the party's resolve, saying, "I have heard and witnessed that decisions made on the Chabutra of Maham chaubisi are never overturned. Today, I want to hear your decision: Are you ready to support the broom symbol of AAP? This energy you are showing is the strength of the AAP. People often say that surveys don't favor us, but AAP workers don’t appear in surveys; they directly form the government."
He declared, "No government in Haryana can be formed without the support of AAP. The broom symbol and Arvind Kejriwal’s spirit are essential for any government in Haryana. You need to stand firm and make this pledge today."
Dhanda criticised the BJP, accusing it of failing the youth. "The BJP wants to retire your children in their prime years, and such leaders should be retired from politics forever. The time has come to hold accountable those who have betrayed you after seeking your votes. Your vote has immense power. Even if you cast it quietly, it will have the same impact as if you were shouting it out. On the result day, Haryana will make history."
The Haryana Assembly elections are scheduled for October 5, 2024, with results to be announced on October 8, 2024. The deadline for filing nominations was September 12, followed by scrutiny on September 13, and the final date for withdrawing nominations was September 16. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won 40 seats, Congress secured 31 seats, and JJP obtained 10 seats in the Haryana Assembly.