Lok Sabha polls: Sheila Dikshit likely to head Delhi Congress

NEW DELHI: Days after senior Congress leader Ajay Maken resigned as the party's Delhi unit chief, sources privy to the development claim that former Chief minister Sheila Dikshit is leading the race for presidentship of the state Congress unit. Speculation is rife that former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is likely to head the Delhi Congress amid forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. She has maintained that the party high command's decision on sealing an alliance in Delhi will be accepted by her.

The Congress is expected to announce the name of its Delhi unit chief by January 10, and all senior leaders, including Sheila Dikshit, are being considered for the post, a senior party leader said on Monday. The search for Delhi Congress chief began after Ajay Maken resigned from the post on January 4, citing health reasons.

"Party president Rahul Gandhi will take two more days to finalise the name of the new Delhi Congress president. The new president's name will be most likely announced by January 10. Names of all senior leaders, including Sheila Dikshit, are under consideration," AICC in charge of Delhi Congress P C Chacko told reporters on the sidelines of an event.

To a question on forging an alliance for the Lok Sabha election, he said local Congress leaders and workers believe that the party should not ally with the AAP in the national capital and should fight the poll independently.

The Congress has formed a committee under the chairmanship of A K Antony that will decide about tie-ups with parties for Lok Sabha polls across the country, Chacko said.

"There is no idea of alliance in Delhi. The Delhi Congress believes that the party should contest parliamentary elections independently. But a final decision in this regard will be taken by the Antony committee," he said.

Both the AAP and the Congress have so far avoided denying possibility of a forming an alliance in Delhi.