Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
In 2013, then chief minister Sheila Dikshit led a virtually solitary campaign for a fourth term. But this year, the “star campaigner” remains nearly invisible or voiceless. Her first major public election appearance was on Sunday with Sonia Gandhi. But while Sonia spoke about Delhi’s development during the governments Dikshit headed, the latter didn’t address the crowd.
Dikshit was previously absent from the launch of the party’s manifesto, Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow at Kalkaji and his rally at Seelampur. “It seems that the party has dumped Sheila Dikshit,” said a close aide of hers. “At least Sonia Gandhi mentioned Dikshit by name. The party’s manifesto lists the achievements of her government without ever mentioning her.”
On Saturday, she attended a rally at Seelampur to campaign for sitting MLA Mateen Ahmed, who had demanded that Dikshit be brought back to revive the party in Delhi. “Sheila Dikshit is synonymous with Delhi’s development. There can be no talk of what the Congress has done for the city, without talking about her,” Ahmed said.
“She and Ajay Maken (now head of the Congress campaign) have always had differences and a number of leaders are thinking twice before asking her for help,” a Congress leader said.
Asked about her campaign, Dikshit said, “I am campaigning for the party. I want to offer my services and I am going to campaign for whichever candidate asks me to.”
In the past week, the former Delhi CM has campaigned for sitting MLA from Chandni Chowk Prahlad Singh Sawhney, Kalkaji candidate Subhash Chopra and Greater Kailash candidate Sharmishtha Mukherjee.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
