After Mamata, Bhagwant Mann's snub to Congress: ‘AAP not in alliance in Punjab’

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said the AAP is not in alliance with the Congress in Punjab.

Updated on: Jan 24, 2024, 15:53:58 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

In a double whammy, shortly after Mamata Banerjee's going solo announcement, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said the AAP is not in alliance with the Congress in Punjab. “Kitni baar kehlaoge mujhse (how many times will you make me say the same thing? Desh mein Punjab banega hero, Aam Aadmi Party 13-0," Bhagwant Mann said at a time the Congress was busy controlling the damage in West Bengal.

AAP is not with the Congress in Punjab, Bhagwant Mann said.

In a move, not unforeseen, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced that Trinamool will go solo in West Bengal. She said the seat-sharing offer that Trinamool proposed has been rejected by the Congress. Mamata also said she was not informed about Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, entering West Bengal tomorrow.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said seat-sharing talks are going on for West Bengal. "INDIA bloc can't be imagined without Mamata ji. Rahul Gandhi too said the same yesterday. Mamata Banerjee is a key leader of the alliance. She said she wants to defeat the BJP and with that thought we are entering the state," Jairam Ramesh said downplaying the disagreement between the two parties as 'speed breaker', 'red lights' which does not end a journey.

AAP, Congress tussle in Punjab

The AAP versus Congress has been going on for some time in Punjab even though AAP came into an alliance with the INDIA bloc in Delhi and for the Lok Sabha election 2024. After much deliberations, AAP and the Congress sealed the alliance for Chandigarh mayoral polls.

While talks between the leaders were on, Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday made it clear that AAP will field candidates in all 13 Lok Sabha seats – without having any truck with the Congress. For 13 Lok Sabha seats, names of 40 probable have come up. "There are three to four probable candidates per Lok Sabha constituency. Surveys will be conducted and we have kept winnability as the criterion (for fielding a candidate),"Bhagwant Mann said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.