The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), we are repeatedly told by its leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, wants to defeat the BJP and therefore, wants to make an alliance with the Congress. It is willing to make an alliance with Congress if and only if it covers Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh. It does not want an alliance in Delhi alone. If the Congress does not concede seats in Haryana and Chandigarh, AAP’s second choice is to go for a triangular contest in Delhi, which will certainly benefit the BJP.
Every political party has a right to decide its priorities, and it is entirely Mr. Kejriwal’s prerogative to decide what he wants. However, the AAP’s position with regard to either a multi-State alliance or no alliance at all, is not consistent with the objective that it claims - which is to weaken the BJP. Hence, a scrutiny of its position is called for.
AAP’s position that a Congress-JJP-AAP alliance in Haryana will wipe out the BJP may well be true. But alliances are never made, or possible, at the optimal level. The Left and the Congress tried to have an alliance in West Bengal but it did not work out. They did not even try to make an alliance in Kerala and are locked in a bitter contest against each other, as usual. Despite all that, they have an excellent alliance in Tamil Nadu.
The RJD and the Congress have an alliance in Bihar and Jharkhand, but in one particular seat, Chatra in Jharkhand, they could not reach an agreement and both have fielded their candidates. The Congress could not be part of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in UP, but all these parties have managed to arrive at an understanding in multiple seats for the purpose of putting up the best possible fight against the BJP. The very logic of alliance is that you make it where and when it is possible. And you appreciate the fact it may not be possible in many other places.
It reportedly took a lot of personal effort on Rahul Gandhi's part to convince Sheila Dikshit on the alliance in Delhi. And, though the last word on it has not been said yet, persuading the Haryana State unit of Congress to give away three seats to the Chautalas - who are AAP's partners there - will be a tall order.
Then the question that arises is, why does AAP feel empowered to keep moving the goal post while repeatedly stating that it wants an alliance? Also, why does the Congress feel compelled to push for this alliance?
One explanation for AAP's posturing is that it is meant to buttress its chances in the Delhi State Assembly election later this year. Given its current placement in the national political scene, it stands to reason that AAP cares more about the Assembly election than seven Lok Sabha seats. If Mr. Kejriwal wants a second term, he needs to consolidate all non-BJP votes. By making a lot of noise about forming a common front against the BJP and simultaneously shifting the goal post for a settlement, he is building an argument that it is the Congress, and not AAP, that did not let the coalition form.
As for the Congress, the optics of bagging all seven seats in the national capital, or even denying that achievement to the BJP, is a compelling enough reason to keep trying to land the alliance.
