New Delhi: Ahead of the civic elections in 272 wards across the national capital, the Congress received a shot-in-the-arm on Thursday with the sitting Aam Admi Party (AAP) councillor from Nanak Pura ward in South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Anil Malik, joining the party.
Welcoming Mr Malik in the party, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said that many other BJP and AAP leaders were in touch with him to switch over allegiance.
“We are getting hints from some other leaders from BJP and AAP. We will allow them to join Congress after giving due thought to their competence and local influence,” Mr Maken said. It was a homecoming of sorts for Mr Malik who had left Congress and joined AAP to contest the MCD by-polls from Nanak Pura ward in SDMC last year. “I had joined AAP thinking there will be something new to do, but I found they were not serious about fighting corruption and Lokpal,” Mr Malik said.
He charged that not even a “single” meeting of the five AAP councillors, who had won the by-polls, was held to train them about fighting “corruption” in MCD. He also alleged that there were no directions from the party leadership as to how to serve the people better.
Mr Malik had won the Nanak Pura ward with the smallest margin among the 13 wards for which by-elections were held. He had defeated BJP’s Nitin Sharma by 522 votes. Mr Maken also claimed that Mr Malik has joined the Congress Party without imposing any condition.
There are indications that Mr Malik may be given ticket from Nanak Pura ward in the civic elections which are expected to be held in April. Sources said that the party was likely to give tickets to all its sitting councillors. The party has also decided to give tickets for the civic elections based on the feedback of its workers. “The rules are same for everyone and the process of ticket distribution will be the same for all,” Mr Maken said.
The Delhi Congress chief also said that the party gives serious consideration to “corruption” issues and those facing charges of misconduct will not be given ticket. He also rejected the view that delimitation of wards has put some parties in a position of advantage.
“There are advantages as well as disadvantages. The disadvantage of anti-incumbency is balanced by inclusion of new areas in the wards. All odds are evened for different candidates as the elections approach,” he said.
