No scope for alliance between Congress, AAP for assembly polls in Haryana, Delhi: Jairam Ramesh

NEW DELHI: The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will not form an alliance for the upcoming assembly polls in Haryana and Delhi, according to AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh.
Speaking on Thursday, Ramesh clarified that the INDIA bloc will contest elections together in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, but not necessarily in other states.
Jairam Ramesh, in an interview with PTI, said that there is no single formula the INDIA bloc will adopt for state elections.
Instead, the grouping will collaborate in states where Congress leaders and alliance partners concur on this approach. When queried about the alliance's plans for future assembly polls, Ramesh specifically mentioned that the alliance would join forces in Jharkhand and Maharashtra.
"There is no INDIA 'janbandhan' in Punjab. In Haryana, we had given one seat to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Lok Sabha polls but I don't think that INDIA janbandhan will be there for assembly polls. In Delhi, the AAP itself has said that INDIA janbandhan will not be there for assembly polls," Ramesh said.
For past electoral collaborations, the Congress and AAP had aligned for the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, while they contested separately in Punjab. Discussing the future, Ramesh addressed the dynamics in different states.
"In the context of West Bengal also, I had said that the INDIA bloc is for Lok Sabha polls but in states where the circumstances are such that our leaders of the state and leaders of our alliance partners want, the alliance will remain. In Maharashtra, the alliance will be there with Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SCP). In Jharkhand, we have an alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morch," he explained.
Ramesh emphasized that alliances will be formed in states where Congress leaders and respective alliance parties agree, suggesting a flexible approach without a rigid formula for assembly polls. He confirmed the stance on Haryana and Delhi elections specifically.
"There is no scope (for alliance) in Delhi and Haryana," Ramesh reiterated.
The states of Jharkhand, Haryana, and Maharashtra are scheduled to hold elections later this year, while Delhi will see assembly elections early next year.