Congress workers protest outside DPCC office over support to AAP

Protesting against the Congress Party's decision to extend outside support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for forming the next government in Delhi, the Congress workers on Tuesday burnt effigies of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal outside the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) headquarters.

"The Congress high command has extended outside support just for the sake of the people of Delhi. We don't want to place a burden of re-election on the people. But their (AAP's) language is demoralizing the Congress workers. We will not tolerate this. That's why, we would like to appeal to Rahul Gandhi to hold a core committee meeting and the support extend to the AAP should be withdrawn," said Nafiz Malik, a protestor.

"Our protests will continue. We have asked for time from Rahul and will put forward our demands. We have met other leaders also on this issue. Kejriwal should be ashamed for using such language," he added.

In a letter written to the Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, the Congress, which has 8 MLAs, had decided to extend unconditional support to the AAP, who has 28 MLAs, to form the next government in Delhi.

On Monday, Kejriwal met Lt. Governor and staked a claim to form the next government in Delhi with Congress support.

"I have handed over the letter to the Lt. Governor stating that we are ready to form a government in Delhi," Kejriwal told media here.

"As soon as the President orders it, the date for the oath ceremony will be fixed. The oath will be taken at Ram Lila Maidan," he said.

Kejriwal had earlier said that the party has decided to form the Government in Delhi with Congress' support.

"We have got overwhelming participation of people during the public meetings. About 80 percent of them have favoured that party should form the government," Kejriwal told media here.

In a public meeting on Sunday, Kejriwal, whose one-year-old party had its roots in the anti-corruption movement, rebuffed allegations that his party was hesitant to form government.

"We will deliver whatever we assured in our manifesto. It (the manifesto) was prepared after wide consultations and a lot of thought went into it," he said.

The AAP had bagged 28 seats in the 70-member Delhi assembly. The BJP had emerged as the single largest party by winning 31 seats while the Congress had stood a poor third with eight seats.

The BJP decided not to form the government, following which AAP leaders met Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and sought 10 days time. The AAP then held a referendum to know from the people whether or not they should form a minority government.