Capable of winning all seven seats in Delhi alone: Congress

NEW DELHI: Delhi Congress believes that contesting the Lok Sabha elections alone on all seven seats in Delhi will be a good move considering the party’s success in the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The return of Sheila Dikshit to the helm of affairs has rejuvenated the workers and they seem to be confident about going it alone this time.

“We were always opposed to any alliance with AAP. The new team is capable of contesting on all seven seats alone, and we will also ensure Congress’s victory in all,” said Devender Yadav, working president of the party.

As part of its strategy, Delhi Congress on Friday distributed responsibilities among the three working presidents—former minister Haroon Yusuf, Yadav and Rajesh Lilothia. While Yadav will be covering areas falling under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and also supervise the Youth Congress, Lilothia will cover north corporation areas and different departments of Congress. Yusuf will cover east corporation areas, Mahila Congress and Sewa Dal. It has been done to ensure that there is no clash of jurisdiction among the three working presidents.

Sources say Congress workers at the ground level have been opposed to an alliance with AAP as they want to fight on their own. “Since it will be contesting alone, Congress will not be affected by the anti-incumbency factor that AAP will have to address in Delhi. There has been a steep fall in the popularity of BJP and AAP at the national level. In case of an alliance, Congress will have to shoulder the burden of the lack of popularity of AAP,” said a Congress leader.

Congress leaders are also aware that both AAP and Congress have a common voter base. So, political observers feel votes will split and BJP will benefit.