The Congress will win all seven Lok Sabha seats of Delhi on its own, says state Congress chief Sheila Dikshit. In an interview with Preetha Nair, the former (three-time) CM dismisses talk of any truck with the AAP. Excerpts:
There바카라™s suspense over the CongreÂss's proposed alliance with Aam Admi Party (AAP). You met Sonia and Rahul Gandhi this week. Can we expect a last-minute patch-up?
There will be no alliance and that바카라™s final. There were some talks, but we never accepted it. AAP never approaÂched us, at least certainly not me. I don바카라™t know how the talk of an alliance came about. My meeting with Sonia Gandhi wasn바카라™t about that.
Are you implying an alliance was possible if AAP approached you?
I wouldn바카라™t have kicked them out anyway. I don바카라™t know how it would have turned out바카라¦depends on the terms. But fact is, no one spoke to me.
AAP was certainly eager바카라¦ What바카라™s stopping the Congress? Is it because AAP rose to power at your cost?
Not at all. That happens in a democracy바카라¦. Mr Kejriwal is misleading all of you. He hasn바카라™t said a word to me. We are not looking for an alliance. His is a small party, confined to Delhi. Right now, his demand is to change the Constitution. That바카라™s Parliament바카라™s job. Who is he trying to misguide?
The BJP is riding high after Balakot. How will you counter that?
What has the BJP done differently? National security is a round-the-clock job. They are not the first ones to do it. It바카라™s just that the Congress hasn바카라™t made any song and dance about it. Our manifesto and candidate list will come out soon. We are confident the Congress will win all seven seats in Delhi.
The BJP is ahead in terms of alliances....
People are not going to vote for them just becÂause they have tied up with some parties. What has the BJP done in these years? Inflation is up and there are no jobs. This is what concerns people. Has education become better? They바카라™ve only done what바카라™s already been done by Congress governments.
A section in the Congress was said to be pro-alliance. Don바카라™t you think the spat is a setback to Opposition unity?
I am not aware of any (pro-alliance) leaders. All parties in an alliance should respect each other. Alliances are not easy....
How do you see the Delhi-Centre tussle?
The government of the day has to go by the Constitution. If the rule says police is not under Delhi, then it바카라™s not. We also wanted full statehood for Delhi, but never succeeded. Till that happens, you have to go by the rules.
You were CM for 15 years. How was your relationship with the Centre?
We brought in the Metro during Vajpayee바카라™s rule. State and Centre have to work in tandem for the sake of the country.
