Why did Congress-AAP alliance talks in Haryana fail? Inside story

Congress's reluctance to part with 'winnable' seats

The Congress party was unwilling to give up its "winnable" seats in Haryana, which was a major sticking point in the alliance talks with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The Congress was particularly hesitant to give up the Sirsa seat, which is considered a stronghold of the party. The AAP, on the other hand, was demanding a respectable number of seats in order to make the alliance more attractive to voters.

AAP's insistence on 'equal' partnership

The AAP was adamant on having an "equal" partnership with the Congress, which meant that it wanted an equal share of seats and a say in decision-making. The Congress, however, was not willing to give up its dominant position in the alliance. The Congress has a much larger cadre and a stronger organisational structure compared to the AAP, so it saw no reason to give up its leadership.

Lack of trust and mutual suspicion

There was a lack of trust and mutual suspicion between the two parties, which made it difficult to reach a consensus. The Congress was wary of the AAP's intentions, and the AAP was suspicious of the Congress's commitment to the alliance. This lack of trust made it difficult for the two parties to work together effectively.

Personal differences between leaders

Personal differences between the leaders of the two parties also played a role in the failure of the alliance talks. Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal have very different personalities and styles of leadership, and they were unable to find common ground. This personal chemistry led to poor communication, distrust, and miscommunication.

Political ambitions of individual leaders

The political ambitions of individual leaders also played a role in the alliance talks. Hooda is a veteran politician with national ambitions, while Kejriwal is a relatively new entrant to politics with his own ambitions. This difference in ambition created a clash of egos between the two leaders.