Cong is strongest in East Delhi: Sandeep

Congress MP from East Delhi Sandeep Dikshit, who is also the party’s contender for coming parliamentary elections, feels his up-to- the-mark development work in the constituency will help him win the seat again.

Son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, the MP says he is not fighting to continue her mother’s legacy.

 “She is my mother but now she is no more in active politics. I will always seek her blessings but it’s unethical to use her name in general elections as she is the governor of Kerala now,” he said.

Asked if the absence of his mother will affect his campaign, he said, “We should always keep this thing in mind that in the Congress party an individual never contests any election. It’s the party that contests and all of us work together to make the party win.”

He recounted the achievements of his mother during her 15-year rule in Delhi.
“People of Delhi know what the Congress party is. They have seen extraordinary development in the past 15 years,” he said.

“They have witnessed a 49-day anarchist rule of Aam Aadmi Party and BJP’s corrupt rule in municipal corporations,” he added.

Asked about anti-incumbency factor against the ruling party, he confidently says there is a pro-incumbency factor in East Delhi.

Pro-incumbency factor

“The kind of development East Delhi has witnessed, I feel there is a pro-incumbency factor.

I am confident that people of my constituency will choose development and not anarchist or communal forces,” he
said.

Forty-nine-year-old Sandeep, a master’s degree-holder in History from St. Stephen’s College in Delhi, was elected as the Member of Parliament of East Delhi constituency in 2009 after the Parvez Hashmi was shifted to Rajya Sabha.

“I work hard for my constituency. I have earned respect through my work only. None of the other parties will get
the support of the people,” he said.

The Congress is aiming at the Muslim vote bank. The leaders are trying to concentrate on Muslim-dominated localities.

AAP dividing Muslim votes

“The Aam Aadmi Party is dividing Muslim votes in Delhi. I want to know if the party is truly secular and it thinks about Muslims, then why has Kejriwal not asked any question from Modi on 2002 Gujarat riots?” he said.

“I have not seen him raising the issue. The Aam Aadmi Party is working on behest of the BJP against the Congress. I want to know what is their definition of secularism?”
“AAP leaders have shared the dais with people belonging to the RSS, its leader Prashant Bhushan is in favour of Kashmiri separatists and Naxalites. What can we expect from this party,” he added.

Sandeep is holding padyatras in all East Delhi localities to seek votes on development. He aims to visit each locality before April 8.