Top

Delhi elections: Ex-CM Sheila Dikshit likely to play a key role to be a key factor

Large section within the party was in favour of pitting her against Arvind Kejriwal
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Congress is likely to suggest the name of former chief minister Sheila Dikshit as one of its key candidates for the fresh Assemly elections in the national capital. The local party unit is also reportedly in the process of recommending the names of some of its former MPs as the candidates for the Assembly poll.
The Congress, however, is not going to project any individual as its chief ministerial candidate. The decision for the selection of the leader of the party’s legislative head would be left to the wisdom of the elected members.
While Ms Dikshit has gone on record saying she was not going to contest the Assembly poll, sources said a large section within the party was in favour of pitting her against AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, who had defeated her by a margin of about 25,000 votes in the December last poll. The Congress, which won three successive elections, was reduced to just eight seats in December last poll.
The Congress had been attributing its humiliating defeat to the anti-incumbency factor. The party feels that it had miserably failed to project the development works which it had undertaken during the past 15 years.
A local leader said that the idea of bringing Ms Dikshit would help the party to aggressively highlight her 15-year achievements. “Once she is in the fray, it will automatically expose Mr Kejriwal, who has been making one false promise after another almost every now and then.”
Sources said that the party’s local unit was also going to suggest the names of some of its former MPs for the Assembly poll. “Our main idea is to win maximum seats. Our former MPs are known personalities. Their participation in the elections will give us an edge over our rivals.”
Asked whether the party was planning to recommend names of Ms Dikshit and former MPs for the Assembly poll, Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely refused to comment, saying “The selection of our candidates is done by our party leadership. It is for the party leadership to take a call on the matter.”
Mr Lovely, however, maintained that the main objective of the party would be to give tickets to those candidates who are capable to win their seats.
“We will be having a mix of young and experienced candidates.”
Sources said that the party would also be roping in its veteran erstwhile leaders like Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler for campaigning in all the 70 Assembly seats. The party has already started a war room to strategize its social media campaign.
Confirming that the party was ready with its Facebook profile of all the 70 seats, WhatsUP application and YouTube channel, party’s head of social media Radhika Khera said, “There will be one person available on each booth to carry forward our messages.” “This time, you will see our high end social media campaign on multiple platforms.”
( Source : dc )
Next Story