We faced issues during coordination: Congress on Lok Sabha poll alliance with AAP

Senior Delhi Congress leaders now aim to energise their grassroots workers for the election next year. “We are trying to come to terms with our defeat in Delhi. We will plan our next steps once it is decided whether we will form the government at the Centre,” said DPCC leader Jitender Kochar.

Before this, several key decisions await the Delhi Congress — picking a new DPCC chief and continuing with its alliance with AAP.

Devender Yadav, who took over as interim DPCC chief after Arvinder Singh Lovely quit the post and later joined the BJP, told The Indian Express, “I have put my best effort to fulfill my responsibilities. It is now up to the leadership to decide if they want me to continue or if someone else should take over.”

On why the AAP-Congress alliance did not work in Delhi, Subhash Chopra, head of the Congress coordination committee, stated, “There were many issues faced during coordination and several underlying reasons. The DPCC will hold a press briefing to discuss these soon.”

Asked if the AAP and Congress alliance will continue for the Delhi Assembly elections, leaders indicated that a decision will be taken after discussions with the high command. “We don’t know yet know if the alliance has benefited us or has been a disadvantage. These matters require further evaluation before a decision can be made,” Yadav added.

The Congress generally follows a long process before finalising their election candidates. Sources said surveys will take place in each assembly constituency, with a sample size of 30,000-40,000 people, names are then shortlisted and the final name gets decided after multiple discussions.

“We will hold review meetings on what went wrong during the Lok Sabha elections; in the next one week, we will meet ground in-charges. We will start planning for the assembly elections… there will be an effort to shortlist and announce candidates earlier so we have ample time to campaign,” Yadav said.