DNA Exclusive: Congress- AAP reach deal in Delhi, may extend to other states

Delhi in Lok Sabha has shown trend of winner take all. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress had won all the seven seats. In 2014, it was BJP's turn to do a clean sweep. In 2008, BJP won six seats and in 2009 Lok Sabha, it won all the seven seats. 

So even when the Assembly election success have eluded BJP, in Lok Sabha, Delhites have voted overwhelmingly for BJP in most of the past elections. With PM Modi still enjoying massive popularity, AAP with its allliance with Congress is sticking to the pragmatic line. AAP-Congree hasn't exactly get along together in the past. No one can forget Kejriwal's 49 day government propped up by Congress. But in the current political situation, AAP leadership feels that it is prudent to bury the hatchet and look to get some MPs elected in the next Parliament. 

It is a climbdown for Kejriwal who had already announced shadow candidates for five seats. Now they will get to contest from only three. 

Congress for 15 years ruled Delhi. Sheila Dikshit, most critics agree did her best to improve the infrastructure of India's capital. Thus it came as a shock to Congress when they got zero in the last Assembly polls.

The realisation dawned that the party has lost its traditional voter base to AAP. Thus this decision to go with AAP. India Against Corruption movement where Kejriwal was one of the main faces lead to the implosion of UPA2. But, politics does make for strange bedfellows. 

"Talks were going on for past three months and it has been decided that both parties will contest on three seats," a source in Delhi Congress said. "This irked state Congress president Ajay Maken and triggered his resignation from the post."

Maken was rebuilding the party hoping for a revival of the Congress that ruled Delhi for 15 years under Sheila Dikshit but suffered a huge setback when the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP swept the assembly elections bagging 67 of 70 seats in 2015. The Congress was left without opening its account as the remaining three seats went to the BJP.

Congress leaders declined to comment on the alliance. One leader, who did not wish to be named said ground workers, do not want to align with any political party. The party had earlier formed a committee headed by AK Antony to explore tie-ups. AAP did not respond to repeated calls and messages seeking their version.

Sources in AAP said that HS Phoolka, the lawyer who has become the face of the fight for justice for victims of 1984 anti-Sikh violence, resigned from the party as he was unhappy over the decision to strike a deal with Congress.

Phoolka quit AAP last week saying the time is rife for an Anna Hazare type movement in the country again. 

The 2019 polls have essentially become Modi vs rest. Sworn enemies are coming together to stop the Modi juggernaut. First Uttar Pradesh, then Karnataka and now Delhi. 

Will that be enough to deny PM Modi the second term?  We will know in a few months.