In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, changes are in store for the Delhi units of both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party this month, said multiple sources from both parties.
While the Congress is expected to decide on a new Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president as well as two working presidents this week, the BJP is gearing up for a reorganisation of its State leadership later this month.
The sources said BJP is also awaiting a decision on a potential Congress-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alliance, for which talks have been on between the two parties for months.
When DPCC president Ajay Maken’s resignation was accepted at a meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi on January 3, the two leaders had discussed several names for his successor, said a senior Congress leader. Among the names on the top of the list was former three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
The leader added that the party was considering having one state unit president and “two or three” working presidents to share the workload.
Working presidents
For working president, the leaders being considered included former Delhi Assembly Speaker Yoganand Shastri and former MLA Devinder Yadav.
Another Delhi Congress source stated that apart from Mr. Shastri and Mr. Yadav, the other names for working president being considered included former Delhi Minister and ex-DPCC president Arvinder Singh Lovely, and former MLA Rajesh Lilothia.
Speaking at an event here on Monday, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge for Delhi P.C. Chacko said the party would decide on the new DPCC president by Thursday.
Mr. Gandhi is scheduled to go out of town from Thursday. Mr. Chacko added that Ms. Dikshit was being considered among others.
The Congress source said Ms. Dikshit’s appointment was most likely for several reasons, including her potential to bring on board former MLAs, many of whom have threatened to resign in case of a possible alliance with the AAP, in case it goes through. While Ms. Dikshit is a Brahmin, the candidates for working president would represent other communities.
Meanwhile, the BJP is in hopes of a three-way electoral contest in which case it would have a better edge than in a two-way contest, said a party source.
The source added that the possible alliance, if it materialises, would not only have a bearing on its choice of candidates but also have a bearing on the reorganisation of its state leadership.
