JOIN USFormer chief minister Sheila Diskhit on Monday credited new Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken with setting off in the right direction by seeking to mobilise supporters to re-energise the party.
“We need some action on mobilising supporter and are beginning to do things in this direction,” Dikshit told Deccan Herald on a day when the Delhi Congress announced a drive to spread awareness on swine flu by using its volunteers.
The Congress stalwart who ran the capital for 15 years, shared her experience with Maken when he called on her a day before taking over as the new Delhi Congress chief on Sunday.
Diskhit, who also served as Kerala Governor, was upfront in admitting that the Congress had lost a lot of ground in the last few electoral outings.
“It’s been a bad time for the Congress. There is no denying this. But this is not the first time that we have seen a bad time. You cannot write off the Congress,” she said.
“People have lost attachment with the Congress but they are now again thinking about it,” she said.
The 76-year-old former chief minister also had a word of advice on the new dynamics of electoral politics.
“We need to adapt ourselves to a three-cornered contest,’’ she said, talking about the future challenge for the Congress in Delhi.
She said the Congress cannot afford to deviate from its policies. “Our policies have always been inclusive. Also, the party is not just about its policies only, as it is also physically present in the entire country. Be it gram panchayat level or above,” said Dikshit.
The veteran leader said: “There is a lot of discussions going on in the party and when the AICC session is held next month, the issue of re-energiding the party will be taken up in detail.”
Referring to the party’s poor showing in Delhi due to weak public connect, Dikshit said: “We did commit some mistakes, but we have always overcome our mistakes.”
Asked about one wish that she would want to be fulfiled, Diskshit said: “A great revival of the party and a sweep for the Congress.”