High command’s view is mine: New DPCC chief Arvinder Lovely on alliance with AAP

Late former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit with Arvinder Singh Lovely. (Express archive)

As far as the alliance is concerned, my role is very limited. Delhi leaders have told the Congress High Command of their views on the matter and we will now abide by its decision. If I have been appointed the Delhi chief, I should not have a personal view. The view of the high command is my view. Unlike in BJP, everybody is allowed to express their views on any issue in Congress. After expressing our views, we abide by decisions… My views may be on a similar standing as that of the other leaders.. (but) whatever decision the high command takes in the larger interest of the county, we will abide by.

Many senior leaders were in the running for the post…

I am on good terms with all leaders. (Ajay) Maken ji is a very senior leader, as is Sandeep Dikshit ji…No one can do anything individually and we have to work as a team. The atmosphere is improving, people are looking towards Rahul Gandhi after the Bharat Jodo Yatra… We are looking at a combination of youth and experience in the unit.

You joined the BJP in 2017. When you returned, you said you were a misfit. What happened in your stint at BJP?

Joining BJP was the biggest mistake of my life and I will always regret it. I was born a Congressman and will die one. I was an ideological misfit in the party. That one decision, taken in a fit of rage, is a black patch on my career… When I went there, I had no expectation of getting a position or any role or ticket. There was no election due either. I took the decision in anger… I am thankful to Kharge ji, Rahul Gandhi ji, Sonia ji and Venugopal ji that they reposed faith in me.

Since 2014, Delhi Congress has not managed to draw voters. How do you plan to address this?

Every party sees ups and downs. Even the BJP was reduced to two MPs once. Congress has had a tough time in Delhi, no doubt, but things change. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress was in the second position in 5 out of 7 seats.

It is important for us to see that people are now looking at Rahul Gandhi and Congress as a viable alternative. People are realising the difference between the Congress and BJP regimes. The Congress has to stand up. On ground, the process of restructuring at the block and mandal levels will start soon. There will be no unilateral decisions. I will sit with the former PCC president and senior leaders and take collective decisions.