Pact with Cong: AAP postpones nominations of 3 candidates

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 19

The AAP has announced its decision to postpone the nomination of its candidates in a last attempt to work out an alliance with the Congress for the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing reporters, AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai today said the effort was being made for what he called "to save the country from the Modi-Shah duo".

On Saturday, AAP's East Delhi nominee Atishi, Chandini Chowk candidate Pankaj Gupta and North West Delhi candidate Guhan Singh were to file their nominations.

Rai said, "In order to give a last chance to the Congress to come on the table and discuss the alliance we are postponing these candidates' nominations from Saturday to Monday."

On Monday, these candidates would file their nomination papers along with South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha, North East Delhi candidate Dilip Pandey and New Delhi candidate Brijesh Goyal, Rai said.

It is learnt that the AAP has proposed to the Congress that the party would offer outside support to the grand old party's candidate of Chandigarh and not field one provided a pact is formed in Delhi with the 5:2 seat-sharing formula.

Meanwhile, the AAP-JJP alliance yesterday ruled out any further chance of trucking in Haryana as the JJP said it could never join hands with the Congress.

Time running out: List of Cong probables sent to Rahul  Gandhi

With the nomination process set to close on Tuesday, a list of Congress probables for seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi has been sent to party president Rahul Gandhi for his approval, a senior party leader said.

The list of party probables, including Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit, was sent to Gandhi and party's organisation secretary KC Venugopal on Friday, said AICC in charge PC Chacko.

"The list is likely to be out on Saturday since Gandhi is out of Delhi for campaigning and will be back late tonight," Chacko said.

Another senior Congress leader said efforts to forge an alliance with the AAP in Delhi were stuck as there was an impasse on seat sharing in Delhi.

"They (AAP) are coming out with new formulae instead of agreeing to contest four seats and leave three for Congress in Delhi. Time is running out for nomination and campaigning, so we are focusing on announcement of our candidates," he said.

Sources said the AAP has proposed to withdraw its Chandigarh candidate in favour of Congress if it agreed to have two seats in Delhi. After several rounds of talks involving Chacko, AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and other leaders of two sides, disagreement prevailed on scope of tie up and seat-sharing formula. — PTI