Amid speculation that Congress will announce their decision on alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal indicated that Rahul Gandhi has “refused” to have a tie-up.
Speaking on the sidelines of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s rally in Vishakapatnam, Kejriwal said:
“We had one meeting with Rahul Gandhi where he refused to have an alliance with AAP.”
When asked if Kejriwal met Delhi Congress President Shiela Dikshit, he said, "Rahul Gandhi se mill chuke hai, toh Shiela Dikshit toh bohut choti hai." (I have met Rahul Gandhi. Shiela Dikshit is a smaller leader.)
Decision on Cong-AAP Tie-Up Likely to Be Announced Today?
However, Dikshit on Sunday, 31 March, said that decision about alliance was likely to be made official “in a few hours”, or on Monday, 1 April.
Delhi has a total of seven Lok Sabha seats, and goes to polls on 12 May.
Responding to a reporter’s question on 26 Match, Dikshit said, “When a decision will be taken then we will inform the media. Ultimately decision is to be taken by Rahul Gandhi as he is the party president; all will abide by what he decides.”
Earlier, Congress leader PC Chacko said that party President Rahul Gandhi would take the final decision on Tuesday itself.
“We’ve had no word with AAP, as we had to take preliminary decision on our party’s political stand whether we wanted an alliance or not. Both parties may have problems. That apart, we have to defeat Modi and BJP. So, we’ll come together.”Congress leader PC Chacko, as quoted by ANI
Sheila Dikshit’s Disapproval
Last week, the Congress was mulling options to align with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party in the national capital in its bid to defeat the BJP, days after having unanimously decided to go for it alone.
However, Sheila Dikshit had voiced her disapproval with a potential alliance, pointing out that aligning with AAP will not be in Congress' interest keeping in view the Assembly election in the national capital slated for later.
According to reports, Dikshit had written to Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, saying forging an alliance with AAP would "harm the party in the long run".
However, she had reportedly also said, “I have left it to the Congress high command and whatever they decide I will go by it. I believe the Congress is in a position to fight with the workers on its own.”
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)