Congress focusses on announcement of its candidates in Delhi amid uncertainty of alliance with AAP

With its talks of a tie-up with AAP heading nowhere, the Congress has now focussed its attention on the announcement of its candidates for the seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi.

A senior Congress leader claimed that the list of candidates on all seven seats could be announced on Wednesday.

"Congress president Rahul Gandhi has advised us to make the best efforts for the alliance with the AAP and if results are not encouraging go alone for the polls in Delhi," he said.

In view of the significance of Purvanchali voters in Delhi, the party plans to field a "celebrity" belonging to the community from West Delhi seat, sources in Congress said.

The party has already finalised its candidates on almost all the seven seats, including East Delhi seat from which Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit will be fielded in case a tie-up with the AAP does not materialise, the party leader said.

The names of former Union ministers Kapil Sibal and Ajay Maken were finalised on Chandni Chowk and New Delhi seats.

Former MP JP Agarwal will be fielded from North East Delhi while former minister Rajkumar Chauhan will contest from North West Delhi seat, sources said.

Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar is likely to be South Delhi candidate of the party, they said.

The talk of a possible alliance between Congress and AAP has been stuck up due to "non negotiable" terms proposed by both sides.

"The 4:3 formula is non negotiable. We have explained to the AAP leaders the rationale behind it," said the Congress leader.

Congress wants to limit alliance in Delhi alone by having three seats for itself while agreeing to four seats being contested by the AAP.

AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said Congress can not be given more than two seats if it wants to have alliance in Delhi alone.

The AAP has declared dates for filing of nomination of its candidates on all the seven seats. Nomination process that began today will conclude on April 23.