Ajay Rai, the President of Uttar Pradesh Congress, asserted that former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had significantly contributed to the development of the National Capital, unlike her successor, Arvind Kejriwal.
The Delhi assembly elections are set to take place in a single phase on February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8. The deadline for submitting nominations is January 17, followed by scrutiny on January 18 and the final date for withdrawal of nominations on January 20.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused AAP leaders of corruption and mismanagement, while AAP, seeking a third consecutive term in power, is emphasizing its achievements in the education and healthcare sectors.
Discussing the upcoming elections, Rai told ANI on Wednesday, “Congress has always maintained a strong presence in Delhi. Sheila Dikshit achieved remarkable progress in the city, but Kejriwal has failed to deliver. This time, we will see a shift in Delhi, and it will be in favor of Congress.”
Rai also criticized Kejriwal, accusing him of deceiving and exploiting the people of Delhi.
In the contest for the New Delhi seat, the BJP has fielded Parvesh Verma, former MP and son of the late Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, to challenge Kejriwal. The Congress has nominated Sandeep Dikshit, son of Sheila Dikshit, for the same seat.
For the Kalkaji seat, the BJP has selected former MP Ramesh Bidhuri to take on Delhi CM Atishi, while the Congress has put forward former MLA Alka Lamba.
The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has faced setbacks in the last two assembly elections, failing to secure any seats. In contrast, the AAP triumphed in the 2020 elections, winning 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP managed just eight.