LS polls: Kejriwal ‘hopeful’ on alliance with Congress

Ravi S.Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 24

With the Congress being a divided house on the issue of an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday signaled he was hopeful and was open for talks on the issue.

“Let Congress invite me for a talk. I am ready to discuss on the issue,” said Kejriwal on the sidelines of a function after launching a book in Hindi “Vaada Faramoshi” authored by Sanjay Basu, Neeraj Kumar and Shashi Shekhar.

When referred to a reported statement of Congress leader and Delhi incharge PC Chacko that he will talk to party president Rahul Gandhi regarding the alliance and the issue would be decided shortly, Kejriwal said he was unaware of it.

“It is a hypothetical question,” was his response to a poser if he would withdraw AAP nominees in the eventuality of an alliance with the Congress.

AAP has already announced names six out of the seven Lok Sabha candidates in Delhi.

The Congress is beset with contrary views with former Delhi Chief Minister and president Sheila Dikshit strongly against it. Among others, former state president Ajay Maken, backed by Chacko, are in favour of an alliance.

Speaking at the book launch ceremony, Kejriwal said democratic rights of people, including dissensions, are being suppressed under the current BJP-led NDA dispensation.

“Critics are hounded and their patriotism questioned,” Kejriwal said, adding that communal passion is whipped up by the BJP to divert attention from real issues and unfulfilled promises by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He appealed to people to ensure defeat of PM Modi and the BJP in the ensuing parliamentary elections.