Intense lobbying in cong for ClP leader post
Intense lobbying has begun in the Delhi Congress for the post of leader of the Congress legislative Party in the Delhi Assembly after Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received the Presidential nod to form a new Government here. Former Power Minister Haroon Yusuf, MlA Mateen Ahmed and Jai Kishan are the frontrunners for the post. In a significant development, Mateen met AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Delhi Affairs Shakeel Ahmad on Wednesday evening and put up his case. Earlier, they had met at Prahlad Singh Sawhney’s residence to discuss the issue of ClP leader who should lead the party in the Delhi Assembly. Congress MlA Devender Yadav, Prahlad Singh Sawhney, Hasan Ahmed, Asif Mohammed Khan are reportedly backing Mateen Ahmed. Sources said that former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is, on the other hand, backing Haroon Yusuf. Mateen Ahmed said that he has also discussed the issue with Shakeel Ahmad. Earlier, Congress MlA Jai Kishan met Dikshit on Monday to discuss the issue. Jai Kishan is also keen on becoming the ClP leader as he is the only MlA from the SC category who won the elections.
No tie-up with congress, AAP clarifies
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday said it is not in any sort of coalition or understanding with the Congress and expects support of majority on the floor of the House for its 18 issues, failing which it will move out. “As we have always maintained, we have 18 issues and we have 28 MlAs, no more,” AAP leader Yogendra Yadav told reporters. “We will go to the floor of the Assembly and try to push each of the 18 issues which have brought us to where we are and we would expect that given the nature of these issues, and how much do they matter to the country and to the people of Delhi we would have the support of the majority on the floor of the House. If we don’t have, we would move out,” he said. When asked about differences within the Congress over supporting the AAP and apprehensions that the party may try to dictate terms or affect decisions of the Kejriwal-led Government, Yadav said, “It is entirely the Congress’ prerogative to take a decision about what they wish to do in the Government-formation scenario here. It is not for me to advise them, it is not for me to speculate as to why the Congress may wish to dictate one decision or the other as we have clarified that we do not have an alliance or a tie up, we don’t have an understanding,” he said.