Elections 2019: AAP-JJP Alliance in Haryana Set to Take on BJP

New Delhi: After attempts for an alliance with Congress ended on a bitter note, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and newly formed Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) forged an alliance to take on ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, JJP National Convenor Dushyant Chautala said his party will contest seven seats whereas AAP will field its candidates on three seats. Although no details regarding the candidates were announced, it is expected that AAP will contest Faridabad, Gurgaon and Karnal whereas JJP, with its base among Jats, will contest the rest of the seats. Haryana will go to polls on May 12.

Also Read: Elections 2019: New Alliances May Pose Threat to Mainstream Parties in Haryana

The JJP came into existence in December last year following a split in the family of former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who heads the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). The result of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections will have a significant impact for all parties, including the ruling BJP, as the Assembly elections are also due to take place later this year.  

The new alliance did not come as surprise as both parties had sensed that the combination has a potential to impact the saffron party whose five-year rule is believed to have been marred by misgovernance. The formula was tested in the Jind by-elections early this year where AAP had extended support to JJP candidate Digvijay Chautala, who finished second by getting over 37,000 votes. 

Sunil Gupta, Rajya Sabha MP and AAP state in-charge, exuded confidence that the combine would win the elections. “Both parties enjoy support among different communities of the state and share a common vision to defeat BJP in the state. This is why, AAP and JJP has decided to go for an alliance. Often it is alleged that JJP is a Jat-dominated party but it is conveniently forgotten that it is headed by a Sikh in the state. It is this diverse presence which we believe will support us. Putting this aside, we want to underline that it is the misgovernance of BJP against which we will seek votes. The entire world saw the unprecedented violence by Dera Sachcha Sauda supporters. Still, we have a chief minister who has no shame in saying that he will seek support of Dera again.”

The alliance may be a win-win for both AAP and JJP. While AAP has so far failed in marking its presence electorally in the state, JJP sees the Lok Sabha elections as an opportunity in claiming its position as the leading party after its split with INLD. Experts believe that the alliance may surprise Congress which is eyeing a comeback.

Talking to Newsclick, Ashutosh Kumar, Professor of Political Science at Panjab University, said AAP has good chances of improving its performance given that it can mobilise votes on the face value of Arvind Kejriwal and state unit head Navin Jaihind, who is a Jat. He said the alliance may succeed only if Jats shift their preferences, as they have traditionally alligned with Congress and INLD.

However, AAP sources maintain that Lok Sabha elections will be a test case before the upcoming Assembly elections in the end of the year. A party source requesting anonymity said," The party's work in education and health has been witnessed by people who travel to Delhi for their jobs. Plus a membership campaign conducted by party showed huge interest of people living in neighbouring cities like Faridabad and Gurgaon, which is why we insisted for these seats. So, it's a win-win situation for us."

Also Read: Muslim Family Attacked by Mob, Second Incident in a Week in Haryana