With voting for the seven Delhi parliamentary seats scheduled for May 25, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are around the corner. But the internal squabbles within the Congress show no signs of abating. Kanhaiya Kumar's candidacy for the Northeast Delhi constituency has intensified factionalism within the party's Delhi unit. The BJP has once again fielded Manoj Tiwari from Northeast Delhi.
A meeting of former MLAs and office-bearers from the Northeast district was convened by the Delhi Pradesh Congress to discuss Kanhaiya Kumar's candidacy, attended by Delhi Congress in-charge Deepak Babaria. However, the meeting concluded without any concrete outcomes. According to sources, a heated exchange erupted between some Congress leaders and Kanhaiya Kumar during the meeting, escalating to derogatory remarks thrown at Kumar. Despite these claims, the event's in-charge Babaria denied any such conflict.
Long-term Leaders Dismayed by Kanhaiya Kumar's Nomination
Tensions within the Delhi Congress continue, fueled by earlier AAP coalition strategies and now Kumar's candidacy. Since the party's top brass ticketed him for the Northeast Delhi seat, local leaders have openly criticized the decision. To manage the dissent, Delhi Congress President Arvinder Singh Lovely staged a meeting with district presidents and former legislators.
Notably in attendance was Sandeep Dikshit, Sheila Dikshit's son, who chose to sit with former MLAs and office-bearers instead of on stage. Despite being invited by Arvinder Singh Lovely to sit on stage, Dikshit declined. This led to a tense moment when Kumar invited Dikshit onstage, prompting a sharp response. Insiders revealed that Dikshit warned the party would face significant losses in various Delhi seats due to Kumar's nomination.
Sandeep Dikshit Clashes with Kanhaiya Kumar, Delhi In-charge Over Candidacy
Kumar's retort to Dikshit's criticism, accusing him of parroting BJP rhetoric, incited a fierce backlash. Allegedly, Dikshit resorted to insults in return, leading to a dispute with in-charge Babaria, and the meeting ended inconclusively. However, Lovely asserted the meeting aimed to accelerate election campaigning for all seats and assign responsibilities to Congress workers across three Lok Sabha seats contested with AAP.
Congress Struggles With Internal Discord, BJP Activists Take to the Ground
Despite the Congress backing Kumar from Northeast Delhi and projecting a strong front, the actual electoral battle is fought by grassroots workers. A young and eloquent leader, Kumar could be a formidable opponent for BJP's Tiwari, tapping into the Purvanchali voter base. However, local Congress workers and former legislators are displeased with his nomination, a discontent that could advantage the BJP. With party workers actively campaigning, the BJP stands united in their support for Tiwari. Meanwhile, Kumar must contend with the lingering shadow of the anti-national slogan controversy at Jawaharlal Nehru University, an issue the BJP is keen to capitalize on.
