Amid uncertainty over an alliance with the Congress for the assembly polls in Haryana, AAP on Saturday warned that those who "underestimate" the party would "regret" it. AAP national secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said during a press conference that the party was ready to contest from all 90 seats in the Haryana elections with full force.
"We are fully prepared and waiting for the party's order. As soon as we get the 'go' word, we will announce everything. We are prepared to fight the elections with full force on all the seats and those who underestimate us will themselves regret it in the future," Pathak said.
Alliance talks between AAP and the Congress have hit an impasse over seat sharing. AAP has demanded 10 seats while the Congress is offering five to seven, insiders have said. Haryana goes to the polls on October 5. The last date to file nominations is September 12.
Earlier in the day, AAP chief national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said talks were underway and expressed hope that there would be "some conclusion". "Talks are ongoing, so it's too early to comment," she said when asked about the number of seats AAP would contest if it struck an alliance with the Congress.
AAP has been on a continuous campaign in Haryana. Sunita Kejriwal, wife of party chief Arvind Kejriwal, is scheduled to hold public meetings in the state on Saturday. "We are ready to contest on all 90 seats," Kakkar said.
AAP sources on Friday claimed that the talks over an alliance were on the verge of "collapse". They had also claimed that the party was planning to contest 50 seats and might announce its first list of candidates on Sunday.
INDIA bloc constituents AAP and the Congress contested the Lok Sabha polls in an alliance in Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi.
In Haryana, AAP contested the Kurukshetra seat, where its state unit chief Sushil Gupta lost to the BJP's Navin Jindal. Addressing a public meeting in Bhiwani, Kejriwal’s wife Sunita dubbed him as "Haryana ka laal" (son of Haryana), and urged people to stand against the ruling BJP by voting for the AAP in the upcoming assembly polls. Claiming that the Delhi chief minister was put behind bars in a fake case, the AAP leader said, "Your son is a lion and he will not bend before (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji."
"I, your daughter-in-law and your sister, want to ask, will Haryana tolerate this insult? Will you remain quiet and will you not support your son (the Delhi CM)," she asked while addressing a gathering here.
Sunita also slammed Haryana's ruling party BJP, alleging it only wants to "remain in power" and has "no interest" in working for the welfare of society. She also said the BJP only knew how to break parties and put opposition leaders in jail.
She asked electors to ensure that not even a single vote goes to the BJP, which has been in power for the last 10 years. Hitting out at the BJP, the AAP leader asked people if they saw any improvement in the education and health sectors in the last 10 years.
"Has the condition of government schools improved? Is there any hospital in your area where good medical treatment is provided, free medicines are given," she asked. "Are you getting free and round-the-clock electricity? There is nothing as such," she said, adding that these facilities are being provided in Delhi and Punjab where the AAP is in power.
Sharpening her attack on the ruling party, she said the BJP just wanted to remain in power. "It only knows how to break parties and put opposition leaders in jail. They (BJP) have no interest in working for (the welfare of) the society," she alleged. She said her husband Arvind Kejriwal was "Haryana ka laal" (son of Haryana), adding that he was born in Siwani village and was brought up in Hisar.
