Lok Sahha polls: As AAP candidate begins 21-day campaign in Bharuch, Congress ticket aspirant says seat-sharing decision on hold

Even as seat-sharing arrangement between the Congress and the AAP for Lok Sabha polls is yet be formalised, Faisal Patel, son of veteran Congress leader, late Ahmed Patel, took to X on Friday to thank party leader Rahul Gandhi for “listening and supporting” Thursday’s protest by the party’s Bharuch unit over reports that Congress had decided to give away the seat to AAP.

Faisal told The Indian Express on Friday that the party high command has put on hold the decision on Bharuch after he wrote a letter to Gandhi. The AAP, meanwhile, has already announced its Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava as its candidate from Bharuch.

As it became clear that “talks were in progress” and no final decision had been made on the seat-sharing, Faisal wrote on X, “Thanking Rahul Gandhiji, you listened to me and the Bharuch Congress workers. By supporting us, I and my fellow Bharuch Congress workers have been honoured. I promise you that I will live up to your faith by winning the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat.”

When contacted, Faisal said, “I have spoken to the high command, sharing details of Bharuch Lok Sabha seat and putting forth that the credible chance of winnability is more for the Congress than AAP. I have learnt through my sources that the party high command has put on hold the seat-sharing decision of Bharuch and Bhavnagar constituencies…”

“Considering my request after I shared a letter with a clear picture on Bharuch seat, Rahul Gandhiji has put the decision on hold…,” he added.

A senior Congress leader told The Indian Express that the seat-sharing arrangemet was unlikely to be formalised till February 26, when Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal is expected to respond to the seventh summon issued to him by the Enforcement