Tussle in Delhi Congress over alliance with AAP as PC Chacko differs with Sheila Dikshit

The tussle in Delhi Congress over aliance with the Aap Aadmi Party (AAP) has come out in open with party's state incharge PC  Chacko claiming that most senior leaders were in favour of joining hands with the AAP. Chacko said that there are two opinions about the issue and both should be respected. Speaking to News Nation, the Delhi Congress incharge said that the aliance talks with the Arvind Kejriwal's AAP were not over and several state senior leaders were of the view that both parties should fight the elections together.

"As far as I know, there are senior leaders in Delhi who think that defeating BJP is party’s immediate responsibility. For that we should form an alliance with AAP, that’s the thinking of majority of leaders," he said adding that the final decision would be taken by Rahul Gandhi.

The statement from Chacko came days after Delhi Congress chief Shiela Dikshit wrote to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, advising him against joining hands with the AAP. Last week, Dikshit and three working presidents Haroon Yusuf, Devender Yadav and Rajesh Lilothia had urged the Congress preisdent not to tie up with the AAP and said that the decision would harm the aprty in the long run.

Speaking about the letter, Chacko said that he was not aware of any such communication and contended that it was against the party rules as she didn't discuss this with him. In her letter, the former Delhi CM also protested against the phone survey carried out through Shakti app of the party, which was undertaken by PC Chacko, the AICC incharge of Delhi Congress.

The survey sought views of around 52,000 Delhi Congress workers on whether they supported the party’s alliance with the AAP in Delhi or not. Chacko said that the outcome of the survey will be presented before Rahul Gandhi, who will then take a final call. Earlier last month, Rahul Gandhi had said that Congress will not ally with Kejriwal's party in Delhi.

After Rahul Gandhi's rejected to its offer, the AAP on Sunday decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections on all the seven seats in Delhi. The AAP, which has already announced candidates on six seats, on Sunday announced Balbir Singh Jakhar its candidate for the West Delhi parliamentary seat.