Cong fields Lamba from Kalkaji against CM Atishi
The Congress has fielded Alka Lamba, president of the All-India Mahila Congress, as its candidate for the Kalkaji seat for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Lamba will challenge incumbent Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, who is seeking re-election from the same seat.
Lamba, a former AAP leader and ex-legislator from Chandni Chowk, was officially confirmed as the Congress candidate by the Central Election Committee on Friday.
Her political journey has seen notable shifts. She started her career with the Congress, joining the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) in 1994. The following year, she was elected to the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU). She switched over to AAP in 2014. In the 2015 Delhi elections, she was elected from Chandni Chowk as an AAP candidate. However, Lamba rejoined the Congress in 2019 after her stint with AAP.
“I thank the party for this opportunity. I am going to contest the Vidhan Sabha elections for the fourth time. First, it should be decided if Atishi is the CM or a temporary CM. Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal called her a temporary CM. He has insulted the constitutional post and a woman holding that position. My fight is against hazardous air, polluted Yamuna and rising crime in Delhi,” Lamba said.
Lamba also took a dig at Atishi saying: “I don’t think I am contesting against the CM. Kejriwal himself called Atishi a ‘temporary CM’. So, she has only a month left. Kejriwal won’t return anyway. As a woman holding a constitutional post, Atishi is disrespecting her position. She must clarify her stance on being called a ‘temporary CM’ by Kejriwal.”
The Kalkaji constituency, a stronghold of the Aam Aadmi Party, has been represented by Atishi since 2015. She assumed the role of the Delhi CM in September 2024 after Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation.
Lamba’s entry into the race adds a new dimension to the contest, with Kalkaji emerging as a key battleground. The Congress has already declared 47 candidates for the 70-member Delhi Assembly, while the AAP has announced its full list of candidates. The BJP, however, is yet to release its list for the upcoming elections.
