In its last phase, Congress’s Dilli Nyay Yatra awaits senior leaders

“We had invited leaders ranging from CMs and deputy CMs of Congress-ruled states to Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs to and even national spokespersons based in Delhi and the NCR to march alongside Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav but their participation was rare,” a Congress source said.

“The Delhi Congress has managed the yatra, an extension of Rahul Gandhi ji’s Bharat Nyay Yatra alone. Rahul ji is going to join it later this week in Northwest Delhi followed by a thanksgiving event at the Talkatora Stadium on December 9. Priyanka ji is also expected to come. Other senior leaders are yet to confirm,” the source added.

A source from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) said there were differences of opinion between the senior leadership and the Delhi leadership when it came to an alliance between the Congress and AAP, with the Delhi leadership of the party against the move. While meetings were held between the two parties recently, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said Sunday that the party will contest the election alone. Yadav also echoed the sentiment.

During this year’s Lok Sabha elections, the Delhi Congress and AAP entered a seat-sharing pact, but tensions emerged following a significant defeat. While leaders initially suggested the possibility of an alliance for the assembly elections, Congress Chief Yadav later called the pact the “biggest mistake”.

A DPCC leader said, “The yatra has energised many people to start campaigning… an alliance will massively cut down on the number of seats, and we are not ready to deal with that unpleasantness from our people.”

“Several leaders who have been invited are either busy with activities in their respective states or with the ongoing Parliament session, that is why they have not been able to come,” a senior leader added.