Delhi: Kirti Azad out of DPCC chief race; fight between two camps

As the Congress party is witnessing internal crisis, now the infighting between two camps for the post of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief has reached the doorstep of interim president of Congress party Sonia Gandhi and former president Rahul Gandhi.

Delhi Congress divided into two camps

There are two factions now divided for DPCC post, one is Kirti Azad and camp and another is Sandeep Dikshit and camp. Kirti Azad was the front runner for the post of DPCC chief, the thing was almost about to get the final stamp but because of division in the factions, Sonia Gandhi at the last moment was forced to change her decision and the final outcome is still awaited. Sources told that Sandeep Dikshit and camp has started a signature campaign against Kirti Azad for the post of DPCC chief. This list includes former MPs, former MLAs and other leaders of Delhi Congress.

Rahul Gandhi has been asked to intervene

Sources also revealed that many consider Kirti Azad is an 'outsider' and is not aware of the ideology of Congress party. He does not understand Delhi as good as Sandeep Dikshit does and this will be a drawback for Delhi Congress for the upcoming assembly elections. The signed letter has been given to PC Chacko which will be submitted to Sonia Gandhi. Some of the leaders from Delhi Congress also approached Rahul Gandhi and requested him to intervene in the issue and support Sandeep Dikshit's candidature.

Congress' difficulty in finding a Delhi chief

The post of Delhi Congress president has been vacant since the death of Sheila Dikshit on July 20 this year. The absence of Delhi Congress chief has impacted the preparation of Congress for the assembly election that is due for early next year. Kirti Azad too has a Sheila Dikshit connection to his political career. He was elected as an MLA from Gole Market assembly constituency in Delhi in 1993. In 1998, he was defeated by Sheila Dikshit, who was brought by the Congress from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

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Congress leaders have been in deliberation for electing the Delhi unit chief. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had met a delegation of Delhi Congress leaders and Delhi Congress in-charge PC Chacko but a decision on the final name of the Delhi unit chief could not be made. Delhi unit of the Congress is faction-ridden with different groups competing with one another resulting in a delay in the announcement of state president.

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Kirti Azad joined the Congress in February this year ahead of the Lok Sabha election, which he contested from Dhanbad losing to BJP candidate Pashupati Nath Singh by nearly 5 lakh votes. He had won 2014 election from Darbhanga as BJP candidate but he was suspended from the party after he went public with allegations of corruption against former Union minister Arun Jaitley in 2015. Sandeep Dikshit has the backing of supporters of Sheila Dikshit in the Delhi Congress.

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