The Congress wants to return to power as ‘it has unfinished business in the realm of development pioneered by it during its 15 years’ at the helm of governance in the Capital, the party leaders asserted at a function where its manifesto was released on Friday.
Highlighting the achievements of three successive governments in Delhi under Sheila Dikshit, who was missing both from the event as well as from mention in the manifesto, and those during the rule of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the party said it needed to be voted back to power so that it could resurrect the “development of Delhi that has been stalled over the last year”.
“Who is to blame for the stalling of these projects and, in effect, that of Delhi? Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with their unrealistic promises,” said Ajay Maken, in-charge of the party’s campaign for the Assembly polls.
When asked the reason behind the party’ sudden realisation over water and power and the steps mentioned in the manifesto to improve facilities for both, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Arvinder Singh said poll issues were fluid and subject to change from time to time.
“When we were in power, the issue was lack of power and water facilities in the Capital instead of their prices,” Mr. Singh defended the Congress’s silence on both issues during the previous polls.
“During our rule, hundreds of metres of sewage were laid, power was provided to several areas, which were struggling with darkness. We got sewage lines extended to South Delhi and better quality power through discoms. There is much more in the pipeline, which is stuck, and we need to come back to power to ensure that development can actually occur in the Capital,” Mr. Singh added.
