"Thagbandhan...there is confusion, contradiction": BJP leaders on Congress-AAP pact in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana

New Delhi [India], February 24 : BJP leaders on Saturday termed the alliance between Congress and Aam Adami Party (AAP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in three states and two union territories as "thagbandhan" and alleged that it was laced with contradictions.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla told ANI that the alliance of the Congress and the AAP has contradictions as they will contest against each other in Punjab while trying to fight together in some other states.
"This is actually 'Thugbandhan' (INDI alliance). What a confusing and contradictory status. In Punjab, they will keep fighting and in Delhi, they will unite... They are allying with Lalu (Yadav) and Sonia (Gandhi), whom they wanted to send to jail," he said.
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said AAP workers will be disappointed with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's change of stance about Congress.
"You must have heard 'chor chor mausere bhai'. That is what is happening between AAP and Congress. AAP workers are disappointed because Arvind Kejriwal used to speak about putting Congress leaders in jail but he is now at their feet," he said.
BJP leaders have accused both Congress and AAP of corruption.
AAP was formed after an anti-corruption agitation in the national capital. The Congress was then in power in Delhi as well as the Centre.
INDIA bloc partners AAP and Congress on Saturday announced a seat-sharing pact for Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh and Goa.
As part of the agreement, Congress will contest three of the 7 Lok Sabha seats in the national capital while the AAP will field candidates on the remaining four constituencies.
At a joint press conference, Congress general secretary and MP Mukul Wasnik said his party will contest the Chandni Chowk, North East and North West seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
"As you are all aware, Delhi Lok Sabha has 7 seats. AAP will contest seats--New Delhi, West Delhi, South Delhi and East Delhi--while Congress will contest 3--Chandni Chowk, North East and North West," Wasnik said.
The forthcoming general elections in the national capital will mark the first that the members of the Gandhi-Nehru family would opt to vote for another party in the New Delhi constituency as Congress will not be in fray.
In Gujarat, the Congress will contest 24 of 26 Lok Sabha seats, leaving the remaining two --Bharuch and Bhavnagar-- for the AAP.
In Haryana, the Congress will contest 8 of the 9 Lok Sabha seats while the AAP will contest from Kurukshetra.
"After a long discussion on Chandigarh, the two parties decided that the Congress candidate will contest the seat," Waskni added.
As part of the seat-sharing deal, the Congress will contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa.
Reacting to the announcement, AAP Gujarat president Isudan Gadhvi hoped INDIA bloc parties will give a strong performance.
"This alliance is done to save the nation, which is above any party. We all saw what happened in Chandigarh mayor polls and because of the Supreme Court democracy was protected. Arvind Kejriwal said earlier as well that we will continue to be in the INDIA alliance... We will work our best on the seats of Congress and we are optimistic that the INDIA bloc will provide strong results. Seeing all this, the BJP is scared," he said.