India
oi-Madhuri Adnal
A
heated
exchange
of
words
erupted
on
Wednesday
between
members
of
the
Delhi
Congress
unit
and
the
Aam
Aadmi
Party
(AAP)
concerning
the
possibility
of
the
former
independently
contesting
all
seven
Lok
Sabha
seats
in
the
Capital.
The
controversy
unfolded
following
a
meeting
of
the
Delhi
Congress
unit
to
discuss
preparations
for
the
Lok
Sabha
polls,
attended
by
senior
leader
Rahul
Gandhi
and
party
chief
Mallikarjun
Kharge.
During
the
meeting,
Congress
leader
Alka
Lamba
revealed
that
the
leaders
were
instructed
to
ready
themselves
for
contests
across
all
seven
Lok
Sabha
seats
in
Delhi.
“With
seven
months
left
and
seven
seats
in
Delhi,
history
suggests
that
whoever
triumphs
in
Delhi
triumphs
in
the
country.
We
have
been
directed
to
prepare
for
all
seven
seats,”
Lamba
stated.
Currently,
all
seven
Lok
Sabha
seats
in
Delhi
are
held
by
the
Bharatiya
Janata
Party
(BJP).
While
both
the
Congress
and
AAP
are
part
of
the
Opposition’s
INDIA
alliance,
no
agreements
on
seat-sharing
have
been
reached
thus
far.
Lamba
clarified
that
no
final
decision
had
been
made
regarding
whether
the
Congress
would
contest
all
seven
seats
alone
or
form
an
alliance.
“In
the
last
LS
election,
Congress
secured
the
second
position
in
all
seven
seats.
No
discussions
regarding
seat
sharing
took
place.
We
will
be
fully
prepared
for
all
seven
seats
irrespective
of
future
decisions,”
Lamba
added.
In
response
to
Lamba’s
comments,
AAP
chief
spokesperson
Priyanka
Kakkar
retorted,
“If
the
Congress
is
not
interested
in
an
alliance
in
Delhi,
then
their
participation
in
the
INDIA
meeting
is
futile
and
a
waste
of
time.
Our
top
leadership
will
decide
whether
we
should
attend
the
next
INDIA
meeting.”
Kakkar
went
on
to
say,
“Congress
approached
us
for
an
alliance
because
they
lack
significance
in
Delhi.
If
we
believe
Alka
Lamba’s
statements,
and
they
decide
against
forming
an
alliance
in
Delhi,
then
the
INDIA
alliance
loses
its
meaning.”
Rahul
Gandhi
Back
In
Defence
Committee,
Days
After
Lok
Sabha
Reinstatement
Senior
AAP
leader
Saurabh
Bhardwaj
struck
a
more
conciliatory
tone,
indicating,
“Our
central
leadership
will
make
this
decision.
Our
political
affairs
committee
and
INDIA
parties
will
convene
to
discuss
this
matter.”
Following
the
meeting,
Delhi
Congress
in-charge
Deepak
Babaria
criticized
the
AAP.
“Delhi
has
lost
direction,
and
no
progress
has
been
achieved
since
Sheila
Dikshit’s
tenure.
Delhi
Congress
will
stand
against
the
anti-people
policies
of
the
AAP
government.
It
was
also
agreed
that
the
party
will
highlight
the
AAP
government’s
anti-people
policies
and
move
forward,”
Babaria
asserted.
However,
he
clarified
that
no
discussions
on
an
alliance
had
taken
place
during
the
Wednesday
meeting.
“The
shape
of
the
alliance
in
Delhi
will
be
determined
by
the
party
high
command.
We
will
follow
whatever
decision
the
high
command
makes,”
Babaria
added.
Earlier
in
the
day,
Kharge
announced
the
meeting
on
Twitter,
stating,
“In
light
of
the
upcoming
Lok
Sabha
elections,
a
consultation
was
held
today
with
Delhi
Congress
leaders.
Transforming
Delhi
Congress
(Navsanchar)
is
our
priority,
requiring
the
participation
of
all
leaders
and
workers.
We
have
previously
made
Delhi
prosperous
and
content,
and
our
commitment
to
Delhi’s
people
continues.”
In
a
media
statement,
Gandhi
said
that
the
Congress
is
committed
to
amplifying
the
voices
of
Delhi’s
residents
and
taking
every
step
toward
the
state’s
progress.
Story first published: Thursday, August 17, 2023, 0:07 [IST]
