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

 

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.”