In an attempt to woo back the Muslim voters, the Delhi Congress has decided to revamp its defunct body of minority cell. The party is looking for a young Muslim leader who could reach out to the community members at a grass roots level.
The Delhi Congress had dissolved all its Pradesh and district committees and other cells for an overall revamp about three months ago. The party had appointed 28 observers for feedback at the grass roots level to ensure that only genuine persons are appointed in its various bodies. The mammoth revamp exercise is being done in view of the party’s humiliating defeat in the Assembly elections. The party also failed to win even a single lok Sabha seat in Delhi. However, the lok Sabha results had shaken the party leadership as its vote-share fell further in comparison to the Assembly elections. The main reason for the party’s worst-ever performance in the lS polls was the fact that its Muslim voters had in large numbers voted for the newbie Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).However, it is learnt that the party’s Delhi unit has already finalised the name of their minority cell’s leader. But, the local leaders are now awaiting the approval of the party high command to declare his name.
As Muslims comprise about 15 per cent of the voters in the city, the Congress has been desperately trying to reach out to the community to ensure they join back the party fold. Sources said the party’s minority cell was almost defunct as it was earlier headed by Javed Mirza, who was also heading a district committee. “Javed Mirza was paying more attention to the district committee than the minority cell. Now we are going for one-man, one-post policy,” said a Congress leader.
Of the 70 Assembly seats, the Muslim voters play a crucial role in Mustafabad, Seelampur, Mata Mahal, Okhla, Babarpur, Trilokpuri, Gandhi Nagar, Sultanpur Majra, Jangpura and Karawal Nagar constituencies. “We need to address the concerns of the community. Only then can we win them back to our party fold,” another senior leader said.