Wants reciprocal seat sharing in Haryana and public announcement of support to their Delhi statehood demand

Senior Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Saturday said that any offer of an alliance in Delhi by the Congress would not be accepted without reciprocal seat sharing in Haryana and a public announcement of support to the demand for full statehood for Delhi.

If the alliance works out, the parties would work out a “joint campaign strategy” for the May 12 elections, a senior AAP leader said. The leader added that the party had asked for Faridabad, Gurgaon and Karnal seats in Haryana.

The senior AAP leader, who is privy to the discussion, said party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met senior leaders Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Gopal Rai to discuss the potential alliance with the Congress on Saturday.

Equal number of seats

Congress president Rahul Gandhi also held a meeting with Delhi Congress leaders to discuss the alliance, sources said.

These two meetings come after Mr. Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, met All-India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge for Delhi P.C. Chacko on Wednesday evening to initiate official talks, according to AAP sources.

After the meeting of the four leaders, the senior AAP leader said it was reiterated that the party would not accept any alliance for Delhi’s seven seats if the Congress does not give it an equal number of seats in Haryana as it gives up in Delhi.

In addition, the leader said the Congress would have to “openly support” the demand for full statehood, which is the central theme of the AAP’s Lok Sabha campaign.

Support Cong. candidate

This had been conveyed to the Congress, the leader said.

The leader added that the party would be ready to support the Congress’ candidate for Chandigarh.

In all, Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh account for 18 Lok Sabha seats, which, the AAP leader said, the BJP would not win if the Congress and AAP get together.

For Haryana, the Jannayak Janta Party is also in talks with the Congress for seat sharing, the leader said.

Though the Congress is yet to declare its candidates for Delhi, AAP had announced its candidates last month.

The senior AAP leader said the party would give those whose ticket are cut other responsibilities within the organisation.

On the seats the party would be willing to give up, the leader said the Congress had only communicated through media reports that it would want New Delhi, Chandni Chowk and North-West Delhi, but the AAP leadership would take a call on the specific seats once the Congress conveys its agreement for the alliance.

Also on Saturday, AAP completed the review of the first phase of its campaign in the seven constituencies. Mr. Kejriwal held meetings with party office-bearers for each constituency on Friday and Saturday, the leader said, adding that the observers for the 70 Assembly constituencies also presented their reports.