Will Octogenerian Shiela’s advent as new Delhi Congress chief be able to pose formidable challenge to AAP n BJP in Delhi ?

The nomination of former CM Shiela Dikshit who ruled Delhi for 15 protracted years till 2014 as the new Delhi Congress chief by Rahul Gandhi with three young working presidents to assist her viz. Harun Yusuf, Devendra Yadav n Rajesh Lilothia, former MLAs n secretaries AICC has proved one thing beyond doubt that Congress has no new experienced face to run the affairs of Congress party in the capital city except the old ones.

Will Shiela Dikshit who is an octogenarian be able to counter the increasing influence of AAP n Delhi CM Arvind Kejrival who is quite young and vociferous in countering every move of Congress party n BJP in Delhi is a question that requires a suitable answer ?

There is not an inkling of doubt that in terms of experience, capability and liasion with the grass root worker n leaders of the Congress Party, the veteran leader n former CM is one of the best choice in the prevailing political situation of Delhi’s politics but would she really be able to pull out the defunct party in the state out of the present impasse remains to be seen.

It’s a known fact that the AAP formed after the movement of the crusader against corruption Anna Hazaare is today a strong political force in Delhi which has siphoned of the majority vote bank of the Congress party that ruled Delhi undisputedly for 15 long years.

It has made tremendous inroads into the traditional lower middle class, minority, SC, ST, backward, JJ cluster n the unauthorised colonies’ vote bank of the Congress party including govt employees by giving these sections massive concessions in water, electricity, schools, education n health sectors thus posing a straight n clearcut challenge to the Congress party.

The former state party chief Ajay Maken despite his dynamism n active leadership has not been able to take on AAP in Delhi and has finally resigned on the health grounds, this being his second resignation.

He tried his level best to confront the AAP n the BJP equally with his full might by way of organising protest demonstrations, dharnas n even courting arrests on various pivotal issues but all in vain.

Though under Ajay Maken’s active n dynamic leadership the state’s one time defunct set up was fully energised n activated at the grass root levels but finally he could’nt withstand the AAP’s increasing political influence n popularity in Delhi n finally surrendered by way of resigning on health grounds.

However, it is said that Maken’s resignation was also the result of his unilateral decision of not favouring any political alignment or patch up with AAP whereas the present incumbent Shiela Dikshit is in favor of it.

Keeping in view the formation of the grand alliance at the national level keeping non BJP opposition parties like AAP in good humour is extremely necessary.

Moreover in the previous assembly election of Delhi in 2014 the combined vote percentage of AAP n Congress was 48% ( AAP 33% n Congress 15%) whereas the entire vote bank of BJP remained intact to 46% despite losing to AAP.

Since the AAP is a ruling party in Delhi there is always scope for anti incumbency. The possibilities of number of seats won last time as well as the vote percentage may therefore come down.

As such the electoral understanding between the old political foes i.e. Congress n AAP is inevitable if they really want to defeat the BJP , the common enemy of both the parties not only in Delhi but also at the national level.

Meanwhile AAP has already started its election preparations in Delhi and Arvind Kejrival is still adamant thus opposing the Congress asking its workers to oppose Congress Party tooth n nail perhaps to maintain pressure tactic over Congress to bargain maximum sests in the Delhi parliamentary elections. Political analysts say that the political seat sharing alliance between AAP n Congress is acutely necessary if they really wanted to defest their common political foe BJP in Delhi. What’s your take friends?

It may be recalled that Shiela’s immense political acumen and organisational n administrative dexterity has resulted in keeping the BJP at bay in Delhi politics for 15 long years despite the BJP having a traditional stronghold in Delhi’s politics since 1998. As the chief minister of Delhi she gave a new face lift to Delhi in terms of tremendous infrastructural development like building flyovers, successfully organising the Common Wealth Games n giving relief to the people of the lower ebb of the society through various welfare measures but the corruption in Common Wealth games n the cummulative effect of the central corruption let loose by the then ruling Congress party pit an adverse impact on her winning chances for her for the fourth time with anti incumbency at its peak. She herself lost to Arvind Kejrival from Gole Market n the Congress could’nt bag a single MLA seat out of total 70 under her leadership in the 2014 state elections from Delhi.