New Delhi | Updated: October 29, 2014 10:27 AM IST
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AICC office in New Delhi. (Source: File)
The Congress on Tuesday said it is “fully prepared for fresh elections” in Delhi and ruled out support to any party. But some party MLAs may not share this resolve or enthusiasm for new polls.
Soon after the Supreme Court pulled up the Centre and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung over the delay in government formation, party general-secretary and Delhi in-charge Shakeel Ahmad held a meeting with party MLAs at the Pradesh Congress office. He later hit out at the LG for “giving the BJP time for horse trading”.
Sources said the meeting was focused on the President’s nod to Jung’s proposal to invite the BJP for government formation as the single largest party in the state.
Legislative Party leader Haroon Yusuf said, “We do not see any possibility of government formation. That is why the party has decided to strengthen its membership on the ground and prepare for fresh elections.”
Referring to the by-election on November 25 as its “first test”, the party also discussed possible strategies in the face of likely assembly elections. “It was discussed as to what strategy would be adopted by the party for the byelections.
That’s the first test for us,” a senior leader said.
While Ahmad and Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely maintained that the party is prepared for elections, party MLAs seem less confident and pointed out that little organisational changes have been made to the party since the last Assembly elections.
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The Congress had dissolved its 140 block committees in Delhi post the debacle in the general elections, “but little has been done in terms of reorganising the party after our defeat,” a worker pointed out.
Ahmad also slammed the LG for delaying elections and said, “He has given the BJP time for horse trading. We are completely prepared for free and fair elections in Delhi.”
The party convened two meetings at the Pradesh Congress office in connection with the elections. Senior party leaders have asked the Congress workers including — MLAs, ex-MLAs, former ministers and municipal councillors —to “gear up for polls” and strengthen the membership base in all parts of Delhi.
Spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said the party leaders “have been directed to start agitations to expose the misdeeds of the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party.” He said after the meeting, a unanimous resolution was passed, seeking fresh elections in Delhi after dissolving the Delhi Assembly, which is currently in suspended animation.
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In the meeting, Lovely is learned to have told party workers to publicise the “15 years of all-round development of Delhi”.
Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies.
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Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics.
Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers:
Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state.
Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights.
Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More
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AICC office in New Delhi. (Source: File)
