While claiming that the ruling Congress in Punjab will win all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state on its own, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday ruled out the need for an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
However, he said that the decision on a coalition with the AAP at the centre would be taken by the Congress High Command.
Amarinder Singh, who met Congress President Rahul Gandhi here on Monday to discuss issues related to the state government and the party, clearly ruled out any alliance with AAP in Punjab.
"The AAP is totally non-existent in Punjab and there is absolutely no need for the Congress in the state to go in for an alliance with Arvind Kejriwal's party," he said, adding that the Punjab Congress had conveyed these views to the High Command earlier too.
"AAP has become defunct with no identity now in Punjab, as against the situation prevailing in the last Lok Sabha elections," Amarinder Singh told the media.
"However, any decision on a coalition with AAP or any other party would be taken by the Congress High Command, keeping in mind the national perspective and electoral compulsions, and would be followed by PPCC," he said.
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Exuding confidence that the Congress would win all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, Amarinder Singh said: "The best candidates would be chosen by the party."
He said the issue of any change in portfolios of the ministers was not discussed during the meeting with Rahul Gandhi.
--IANS
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