Congress says support not unconditional

Section of Congress feels party should let AAP form govt in order to expose it

With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) clarifying its intention to form a government in Delhi with Congress support and conveying this to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, former chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday welcomed the decision. However, she clarified the Congress was providing “outside support and not unconditional support”.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is set to become chief minister, had convincingly vanquished Dikshit from her stronghold, labelling the elections as a vote against her 15-year rule. Congress insiders said, therefore, it was no surprise that “Dikshit was foremost among those who were dead against Congress offering support to AAP, but was overruled by the party high command”.

Another view within the party was it should let AAP form the government, in order to expose it.

Talking to reporters on Monday, Dikshit said, “We had said we would give them outside support. The support is not unconditional. I congratulate them for deciding to form government and hope they will be able to fulfil the promises they made to the people of Delhi.”

She, however, seemed sceptical of APP fulfilling its promises. “We will support them as long as they deliver. We already knew that it is not possible to fulfil the kind of promises they made.” AAP’s promises include cutting power rates by half and providing 700 litres of free water daily to every household.

Among the host of issues worrying the Congress is the possibility of AAP taking up the issue of the land dealings of Robert Vadra, son-in-law of party president Sonia Gandhi, in Haryana. AAP leaders have clarified they would not change track since they were seeking support from the Congress. “We shall continue as before,” they have said repeatedly.

In fact, it is this brazenness that has angered Congress leaders, as AAP continues to badmouth the party. Pradesh Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely and Dikshit have urged AAP to use civil language.

“Their language is not good. It is uncivilised. We can criticise each other, but the language should be civil,” Dikshit said.