The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
‘Focusing on our seats’: On ground, no signs of AAP-CONG joint campaign
DESPITE DECLARATIONS of a combined, supportive campaign and a joint strategy for the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress are far apart on the ground. As part of the INDIA bloc, AAP has fielded four candidates out of seven in Delhi and Congress has fielded three.
AAP MLAS, however, have only been asked to campaign for their own party members.
While AAP announced its candidates in February and the Congress list came out on Sunday, the former announced the second phase of campaigning on Monday, focusing only on the four seats it is contesting from — East, South, West and New Delhi.
Besides the INDIA rally held on March 31, the AAP and the Congress are yet to come together for joint campaigning on the ground.
AAP MLAS whose assembly constituencies fall under the parliamentary constituencies that have Congress candidates have been assigned tasks in other areas. Kirari MLA, (Northwest Delhi) Ritu Raj, for instance, has been made in-charge of South Delhi Lok Sabha seat for its candidate, Sahi Ram Pehalwan.
“We are currently working and focusing on our seats... they (Congress) will plan and accordingly, we will go participate in their meeting; if their candidates need us... to accompany them to rallies... we will definitely go... But our focus is winning our four seats,” said an AAP MLA from Northwest Delhi.
Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, MLA from Model Town, said: “... As of now, we have been given different tasks such as working on door-to-door campaigning... There are no directions from the party but at the local level, we are working... I spoke to (Congress leader) JP Agarwa land held a meeting... He also met other MLAS and called them for coordination...”
Congress has fielded Agarwal from Chandni Chowk, Udit Raj from Northwest Delhi and Kanahiya Kumar from Northeast Delhi. In an interview with The Indian Express, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh had said that alliance partners will have to work for each other on the ground to ensure a win.
AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai had also said earlier that party leaders would participate in Congress campaigns “wherever required”.
Former social welfare minister and MLA from Seemapuri, Rajendra Pal Gautam, said, “We have to make a strategy and start campaigning together in the next couple of days... it is very important for both parties... I will participate in the INDIA bloc campaign... if Rahul Gandhi gives me a call to work for them, I will do it.”
Sources in the Congress, meanwhile, said that meetings to finalise the campaign details will be held soon.
The Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held in seven phases, starting April 19. Delhi votes on May 25.