Days after pointing out that her party won’t up with Aam Admi Party (AAP) in the national capital, Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit said that the decision on alliance will be taken by party high command. She had previously stated that the party would contest alone in the national capital. Delhi will vote on May 12
“If the high command decides to go for an alliance, we will automatically accept it,” she was quoted as saying by Indian Express. A number of Delhi Delhi Congress leaders, including Sheila Dikshit, are opposing an alliance with the AAP, even as while central leaders are mostly favouring it. Party president Rahul Gandhi is expected to take the decision on this in a few days.
Another senior party leader. PC Chacko told Indian Express, “The 14 district committee presidents and four former presidents of the Delhi Congress unit are in favour of having an alliance with AAP. Sheila ji and some leaders are not in support of the idea. I have passed on the opinions of all of them to Rahul ji and requested him to come up with a decision which is favourable for the party.”
Delhi Congress leaders have written a letter to Rahul Gandhi, conveying their stand on the issue. The party also conducted an internal survey which too has been passed on to Rahul Gandhi.
Once the decision is taken by the party high command, Congress’ Delhi unit will work on seat-sharing calculation. At the moment, the formula that is under discussion is to share three seats each, while a joint candidate will contest in the seventh seat.
Also read: Sheila Dikshit on Arvind Kejriwal’s alliance remark: Delhi CM never discussed a tie-up with Congress
The party’s screening committee will submit a list of shortlisted candidates to Rahul Gandhi. “Polls in Delhi are quite late. Before that, the party has to finalise names in other states,”, a Congress leader told the paper.