Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday withdrew its candidate from the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat and further demanded that the Congress withdraw their candidates from the Sonitpur and Dibrugarh seats in Assam.
It is to be noted that Congress earlier on March 12 released a list of 12 candidates for Assam for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party is contesting 13 of the 14 seats and reserving one for its ally Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP).
This list includes the three seats for which AAP had announced their candidates a month earlier: Guwahati, Sonitpur and Dibrugarh. Party MP Gaurav Gogoi will contest from Jorhat, while MP Pradyot Bordoloi will contest from his Nagaon seat. Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi will contest from Dibrugarh in alliance with the Congress.
Also read: 'Tired of talking to INDIA bloc': AAP declares candidates for 3 Lok Sabha seats in Assam
In an official press release, AAP expressed its displeasure towards the Congress Party over seat sharing and claimed, “We (AAP) were told that a solution would be found, but when Congress announced its candidates for all seats in Assam on March 12 We are completely shocked by this approach by Congress. Won't it help the BJP by dividing the votes? Won't it help the BJP?”
AAP added that the AAP Political Affairs Committee (PAC) has decided not to contest the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat, saying that the Aam Aadmi Party has won the second highest number of votes after the BJP in the elections to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation. “To avoid splitting the opposition's votes, we have decided not to contest the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat.”
Further challenging the Congress, the party said, “We also challenge the Congress Party and the United Opposition Forum to reciprocate our gesture by withdrawing their candidate from Sonitpur and Dibrugarh Loksabha seats. Otherwise, it will be clear that the Congress party has made an agreement with the BJP and is fighting only to ensure that the BJP wins. The people of Assam will not accept this.”
Also read: Lok Sabha elections 2024: Which BJP candidate is fighting which Congress leader? Here's your guide
AAP further lambasted the Prime Minister Modi-led government and said, “On the one hand, there is the BJP which wants to destroy democracy in the country. These people do not believe in the Constitution, they do not believe in independent institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Election Commission, and their only goal is to eliminate the opposition.”
Also read: AAP announces 5 Lok Sabha poll candidates for Delhi, Haryana; Vice Chairman of Jal Board Somnath Bharti on the list
Meanwhile, the Congress is likely to face potential unrest in Assam PTI reported citing sources that Abdul Khaleque, the current MP representing Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency, might resign due to dissatisfaction with the party.
Notably, Khaleque did not get the Lok Sabha ticket from the Congress; instead, the party awarded his seat to Assam Pradesh Congress Sevadal president Deep Bayan.
(With input from agencies)
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Published: Mar 15, 2024 2:03 PM IST