Gujarat spanner in Congress deal with AAP over Lok Sabha seats

Tribune News Service

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, February 23

A deep disagreement over claims to the crucial Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat has thrown a spanner in the works of INDIA bloc partners Congress and Aam Aadmi Party that have otherwise nearly finalised a seat-sharing deal for the upcoming General Election.

‘Waiting for the final call’

We know that seat-sharing talks between AAP and Congress are on, but no final decision has been taken. We will wait for the outcome…. People were very angry and demoralised at the news that Bharuch could be traded. We are waiting for the final call. Mumtaz, Daughter of late Ahmed Patel

While AAP is learnt to be adamant on Bharuch as part of the overall seat-sharing agreement, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is against conceding it to the Kejriwal-led outfit, citing its emotional importance for the grand old organisation. Kejriwal, during his January 7 tour to Gujarat, announced AAP MLA and tribal leader Chaitar Vasava as party candidate for the Bharuch seat. The Congress is, however, seeking the seat for itself.

Bharuch was represented thrice in the Lok Sabha by late Ahmed Patel, the powerful political secretary to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Patel’s daughter Mumtaz on Friday staked claim to the seat and said she was hopeful the Congress would retain Bharuch where it had a solid base and history.

“We know that seat-sharing talks between AAP and the Congress are on, but no final decision has been taken yet. We will wait for the outcome. When the news came that AAP was eyeing Bharuch, obviously we were very sad. Our entire cadre was sad. Here in Bharuch, I and my brother Faisal are not the only family of Ahmed Patel. The entire party organisation is his family. They have aspirations that Bharuch remains with the Patel family. People were very angry and demoralised at the news that Bharuch could be traded. We are waiting for the final call,” Mumtaz said, throwing her hat in the LS ring.

AAP holds only one of the seven Assembly seats in the Bharuch LS segment. Mumtaz expressed confidence that Rahul Gandhi would keep Bharuch for the Congress.

“While we have to see larger interests of the alliance, we must remember that traditionally Bharuch has been a Congress stronghold and should remain with us. We have cadre here. Ahmed Patel nurtured this seat for 45 years. That is the reason AAP wants this segment as part of the deal because otherwise they have nothing here,” Mumtaz reasoned.

It remains to be seen what call AAP would take on the issue. The two allies have so far discussed a 4-3 deal in Delhi with four in AAP’s favour (South, Northwest, New Delhi and West Delhi); two seats for AAP in Gujarat with Kejriwal seeking Bharuch and Bhavnagar; one each for AAP in Goa (South Goa) and Haryana (Hisar). Lack of clarity on Bharuch is said to be holding back the formal announcement of the deal.

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#Aam Aadmi Party AAP #Congress #Gujarat #INDIA bloc #Lok Sabha