Divisions in Cong on supporting AAP out in open

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Press Trust of India New Delhi/Ahmedabad
Last Updated : Dec 24 2013 | 9:08 PM IST
Divisions in Congress today came out in open over its support to Aam Aadmi Party to form government in Delhi but there were indications that the party will not rush into withdrawing support immediately.
Reflecting the unease within the Congress over the move to support Arvind Kejriwal's party, general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said, "There is also an opinion that perhaps the decision to support AAP in this manner was not correct. Some people feel this."
He added "We have given our support to AAP. We expect that AAP delivers good results, works on its manifesto and do good for people."
However, a senior party functionary ruled out any immediate move to withdraw the letter of support given to the Lieutenant Governor.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel said in Ahmedabad, "in an organisation, there are different voices but right now our support is for Aam Admi Party...We will see what happens later."
The remarks of the senior party leaders came a day after scores of Congress supporters held a demonstration outside the DPCC office against the party's decision to extend outside support to AAP to form the government in Delhi.
Ever since AAP decided to form a government in Delhi with Congress support, the leaders of Congress have been repeatedly emphasising that their support to AAP is not unconditional.
Sections in the party view that supporting AAP, which is hitting out at Congress day in and day out and threatening to book its leaders and order probes against them, makes the party look poor in people's eyes.
Moreover there is a view that Congress was caught napping as the leaders, who favoured supporting AAP to form government, were of the belief that Kejriwal will avoid staking claim to power.
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First Published: Dec 24 2013 | 9:08 PM IST

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