Congress seeking AAP`s help to stymie Narendra Modi`s rise? Hints Mani Shankar Aiyar

Zee Media Bureau New Delhi: With clock ticking fast for 2014 Lok Sabha Polls, Congress might be considering of striking an alliance with the firebrand Aam Aadmi Party to outshine Bharatiya Janata Party`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, hinted Mani Shankar Aiyar on Tuesday. Hailing Arvind Kejriwal`s AAP as a secular party, Mani Shankar Aiyar in an oblique comment suggested that Congress could seek the help of AAP in the run-up to General Elections 2014 to thwart the BJP`s influence. “We will work shoulder to shoulder.. Having two secular parties at power is good for the country,” said Aiyar according to the reports.

However, Aiyar suggested the AAP to be more cautious citing the controversial remark of Prashant Bhushan on Kashmir and urged the AAP to “start constructive co operation” with Congress. Aiyar`s comments have done well to instigate the BJP which has earlier reiterated its comment on AAP-Congress alliance in Delhi, saying that Arvind Kejriwal`s AAP is a “B-team” of Congress. Reacting to Aiyar`s comments, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar slammed the Congress saying that the party was confident of its defeat at the hands of Modi and hence was seeking to piggyback on the AAP to serve its own end. “Its Congress mindset,they know they can`t fight Modi,so trying to take support of AAP & others,” said Javadekar reportedly. After Arvind Kejriwal agreed to form the government in Delhi with the support of Congress, the BJP has been blowing hot and cold, lambasting the AAP to go back on its promise of not taking Congress support. Meanwhile basking in the glory of Delhi success, the AAP has set its eyes on General Elections 2014 and will be fielding maximum number of candidates in Lok Sabha, the party decided in its national executive meet. AAP has decided to launch a nationwide enrolment campaign from January 10, to attract fresh faces in its party.