Amid continued uncertainty over its alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday discussed the issue with senior party leaders of the city again.
Delhi Congress president and former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, All India Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge of the party’s national capital unit P.C. Chacko, and some other senior leaders were present at the meeting held in Mr. Gandhi’s residence, a source said.
According to sources, Delhi Congress leaders told Mr. Gandhi about the party’s prospects in Delhi in this Lok Sabha poll and if the party goes for a pre-poll alliance with AAP what effects it may have, given that Assembly election in the national capital are scheduled in 2020.
A Congress leader, who was present in the meeting, claimed that an alliance with AAP was “almost certain” and now the two sides need to sit together to fine-tune the seat-sharing formula.
‘Upset’ Dikshit
Sources said that Ms. Dikshit, who has been opposed to tying up with the AAP in Delhi, was “upset” although she has chosen to go by the party high command’s diktat.
Mr. Chacko visited the Delhi Congress president at her residence after the meeting with Mr. Gandhi, following which the two leaders avoided media queries on the alliance.
Asked about her two meetings on the day, Ms. Dikshit said, “Leaders visit me often.”