As Haryana approaches its Assembly elections next month, the BJP appears unsettled, and the Opposition, despite its strong performance in the Lok Sabha, faces its own internal challenges.

A key issue for the Congress is managing expectations. With many predicting a Congress victory in Haryana due to anti-incumbency against the BJP, there is intense pressure to reward loyalists who supported the party through difficult times. As reported by Asad Rehman and Varinder Bhatia, numerous Congress workers have been protesting outside the party headquarters in Delhi, demanding tickets for their preferred candidates rather than for “outsiders.” The situation reached a head on Saturday when AICC Haryana in-charge Deepak Babaria was surrounded by disgruntled workers. The stress from these developments, coupled with faltering talks with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led to Babaria being hospitalized on Monday.

Another critical issue is the breakdown in seat-sharing negotiations with AAP, which released its first list of candidates on Monday. While Congress holds the advantage in Haryana, the decision to potentially cede five to seven seats to AAP could have been pivotal for the INDIA alliance, offering a model for cooperation in rival states. Rahul Gandhi was reportedly supportive of the alliance to send a message to the BJP, but state Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda was resistant to conceding ground to AAP.

With the nomination window closing in two days, there is little time left for both parties to reach an agreement. The release of Congress’s second and third lists late Monday could signal the end of alliance talks. However, in politics, negotiations often continue until the last minute, making the outcome of these talks a key political story to watch.

📌 Also happening today:

• Congress will launch its “Kisan Nyay Yatra” (Justice for Farmers) in Madhya Pradesh, with demonstrations planned for September 20 to protest against the BJP-led state government for failing to meet promises made to farmers.
• The Supreme Court will hear Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s plea challenging a Delhi High Court decision that refused to dismiss defamation proceedings against him over alleged remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Junior doctors in West Bengal, who are striking over the RG Kar case, have decided to continue their protest despite the Supreme Court’s directive to return to work by 5 pm Tuesday.