Regularising colonies, houses for poor top Cong agenda

The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee expressed confidence that Congress would win the forthcoming assembly elections for the third consecutive time, reports HT correspondent.

The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) on Tuesday expressed confidence that Congress would win the forthcoming assembly elections for the third consecutive time.

HT Image

The party has not announced any Chief Ministerial candidate as yet.

“The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has made it very clear that elections are fought with the incumbent Chief Minister but (ultimately), the leader is chosen by the elected candidates,” DPCC chief J.P. Agarwal told media persons when asked who would be the party’s chief ministerial candidate.

Also, he was very critical of the BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate Vijay Kumar Malhotra and also commented on the latter’s age by saying, “Malhotra may not be able to run with a 18-year-old voter.”

He said the party’s candidates for all 70 assembly seats would be declared by the month end.

Agarwal said the five main issues on which the party would votes are: regularisation of unauthorised colonies, providing low-cost houses to slum dwellers, transparent governance, development and the Ladli Beti scheme.

He added that Sheila Dikshit led-Congress government has done a wonderful job during the last 10 years to change the face of the national capital.

Agarwal, however, refused to entertain ‘inflation’ as a poll issue even when reminded that it was the Congress which had made an issue out of onion prices in 1998 leading to the debacle of the then BJP government.

The DPCC chief brushed aside any threat from parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). “They (BSP) call themselves as a party working for the Dalits and the poor. I would like to know how many of their candidates declared six months ago are Dalit or poor?”

On the selection criterion, he said the party’s candidates would be selected on ‘winning ability’ and ‘loyalty to party’.