Delhi: Congress releases list, talks of tie-up with AAP ends
Ending weeks of uncertainty surrounding a potential tie-up with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, Congress on Monday released a list of candidates. Former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was given ticket from Northeast Delhi where she will take on BJP MP Manoj Tiwari. Ajay Maken will contest from New Delhi seat, JP Agarwal from Chandni Chowk and Mahabal Mishra from West Delhi. Here's more.
Here is the complete list
AAP wanted to join hands with Congress
For weeks now, political corridors have been busy with speculations of an unlikely alliance between AAP and Congress. The Arvind Kejriwal led party was keen for the tie-up with members going as far as saying that they will "drink venom" to defeat BJP. Interestingly, AAP didn't just want a seat on the table in Delhi, but wanted a few seats in Haryana as well.
AAP wanted three seats in Haryana, Congress refused
AAP increased its demands when Congress showed interest. The relatively new party wanted Congress to give it Gurgaon, Karnal, and Faridabad. They argued that these constituencies are close to Delhi and people have seen their work. "When people are referred to hospitals in Delhi, they come to feel the difference in terms of expenses and service," explained spokesperson Sudhir Yadav. But Congress didn't budge.
Later, Congress and AAP took alliance talks to Twitter
The conversations took a new turn last week when Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted that he was willing to give 4 seats to AAP and the ball was in Kejriwal's court. "But, Mr. Kejriwal has done yet another U-turn! Our doors are still open, but the clock is running out," he tweeted. Responding to him, Kejriwal wrote Rahul's tweet showed his intentions were misplaced.
Kejriwal accused Rahul of helping BJP
Meanwhile, Dikshit will take on Tiwari on his turf
By announcing candidates for 6 out of the 7 constituencies, Congress has put an end to all talks. Also, by giving 81-year-old Dikshit an important seat (Northeast Delhi is Tiwari's turf), Congress has shown it is relying on old warhorses. Notably, when alliance talks reached a rough patch, Kejriwal had called Dikshit a 'small leader' and said Rahul would take the final decision.
Expect a lot of action in the coming weeks
It won't be wrong to expect allegations-laced statements from Kejriwal in the coming days. The Chief Minister of Delhi has constantly accused Congress and BJP of working together to defeat AAP. In the last parliamentary polls, BJP swept Delhi by winning all seven seats. Notably, star cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir, who joined BJP, hasn't been allotted a seat yet. Delhi will vote on May 12.
