JOIN USCity Cong MPs seek ticket to Assembly
Fear of losing their seats has reportedly led four city Congress MPs to seek party tickets for city's assembly elections.
Sources in the city Congress say former Union minister and MP representing New Delhi Ajay Maken, Union minister and MP from North West Delhi Krishna Tirath, West Delhi MP Mahabal Mishra and Chandni Chowk MP and Union minister Kapil Sibal have expressed their desire to contest in elections to Delhi Assembly likely to be held shortly.
It'’s being understood that the reason for these leaders wanting to become MLAs after being MPs is the fear of losing in the parliamentary elections.
“In the Congress party, every member is free to demand a ticket for
Assembly elections, no matter if he or she is an MP or a minister. The party high command finalises the list of candidates,” said a senior Delhi Congress leader.
Sources say Maken is eyeing Vikaspuri or Rajouri Garden Assembly seats. He has registered three consecutive victories from Rajouri Garden seat before his elevation to national politics.
Tirath is reportedly demanding Karol Bagh or Patel Nagar Assembly seats, both reserved for Schedule Caste candidates. She has witnessed stiff resistance from insiders during parliamentary elections.
Many current and former MLAs from her constituency had registered protest against her to the party high command.
West Delhi MP Mahabal Mishra has reportedly demanded Dwarka or Palam Assembly seat. He was an MLA from Palam before becoming Lok Sabha member from West Delhi.
Sources say Chandni Chowk MP Kapil Sibal is also willing to contest in the assembly polls. He has reportedly sought party ticket from Chandni Chowk or Ballimaran Assembly constituency. However, two out of eight Congress MLAs are from these two constituencies. Former Delhi minister Haroon Yusuf is the MLA from Ballimaran and senior party leader Prahlad Singh Sawhney is the MLA from Chandni Chowk assembly constituency.
According to party sources, East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit, who is the son of former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, has put conditions for his contesting an Assembly election. He has reportedly sought the post of successor of Sheila Dikshit to lead the party in the Assembly elections.