After Mamata Banerjee, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann says no alliance with Congress in Punjab

In another jolt to the INDIA bloc ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will not stitch up an alliance with Congress in the state.

Mann’s declaration came even as Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said the TMC is not in any discussion with the Congress, and that her party would go it alone in the 20 Lok Sabha election in the state.

While addressing the media, Mann said, “Desh mein Punjab banega hero, Aam Aadmi Party 13-0.” He was categorical in stating, “The AAP is not going with Congress in Punjab.”

Earlier this month, Bhagwant Mann seemed to soften his stance, hinting that the high command would make the final decision on any alliance with Congress. Subsequently, the AAP collaborated with Congress in the mayoral elections for the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

Raghav Chadha, a party leader, announced in the national capital that this marked the beginning of electoral cooperation within the INDIA bloc, aiming to collectively challenge the BJP in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

He said the candidates will be chosen on winnability. “We have got a list of 40 probables out of which 13 will be selected. We will get them surveyed. Only those who fulfil the criterion of winnability will be given the ticket.”

Out of these 40, there were 2-3 probables or even more in some constituencies. The list included the sitting MP Sushil Kumar Rinku, he said.

All eyes have been on the AAP and Congress in Punjab with the Congress leaders opposing the alliance tooth and nail in the past on the plea that the AAP government in the state had unleashed vendetta on them and several leaders were being arrested by the Vigilance Bureau in corruption and other