No alliance between AAP and Congress in Punjab for Lok Sabha polls, says Bhagwant Mann

Things have started to fall apart for INDIA coalition. Now, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has said that there will be no alliance between Aam Aadmi Party and Congress for the Lok Sabha elections in the state.

"Punjab will become a hero in the country and the AAP will win 13-0 in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls". We are not going with them (Congress)," Mann told a press conference.

Earlier this month, seat sharing talks were underway between AAP and Congress wherein the former has reportedly put forth its demand to contest in Gujarat, Goa and Haryana apart from its two ruling states — Delhi and Punjab. There were reports on the two finalising on the seats soon even though state leaders from both camps have expressed their wish of contesting together in Punjab.

There are 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab.

Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Trinamool Congress party will fight the Lok Sabha elections in the state alone.

"I had no discussions with the Congress party. I have always said that in Bengal, we will fight alone. I am not concerned about what will be done in the country but we are a secular party. And in Bengal, we will alone defeat BJP. I am a part of the INDIA alliance," Banerjee said.

"Let the Congress fight 300 seats on its own. The regional parties are together, and can contest in the rest. However, we will not tolerate any interference by them (Congress)," she added.

The TMC, Congress, AAP are part of the 28-party opposition INDIA bloc.