Have we outsourced the task of defeating BJP? Might as well close shop: Congress leader slams top brass
New Delhi: All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee, on Wednesday, questioned the Congress top leadership over its elation with Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) win in the Delhi Assembly election. Responding to a tweet by the former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who hailed AAP’s Delhi victory, saying people of Delhi defeated ‘the polarizing, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP’.
“With due respect sir, just want to know- has @INCIndia outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why r we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned abt our drubbing? And if ‘yes’, then we (PCCs) might as well close shop!” Mukherjee said in response to Chidambaram’s tweet.
On Tuesday, commenting on AAP’s thumping victory with a decisive 62-seat mandate, Chidambaram said, “AAP won, bluff and bluster lost. The people of Delhi, who are from all parts of India, have defeated the polarising, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP. I salute the people of Delhi who have set an example to other states that will hold their elections in 2021 and 2022.”
A similar sentiment was echoed by most senior Congress leaders who appeared to be brushing aside Congress’dismal show in the national capital, and instead, celebrate the defeat of the BJP. “We are aware of this. But what happened to the BJP that was making tall claims? Being at the Centre, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji is close to Delhi’s electorate which would have elected the BJP, if it was satisfied with his work,” said Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath.
Congress has no reason to celebrate: BJP vote share six per cent up, Congress dips to 4.5 per cent
In the 70-seater Delhi Assembly, results of which were declared on Tuesday, the Congress did not manage to bag even a single seat. The Congress vote share, which once touched 34.48 per cent in 1998, dipped to a dismal 4.5 on Tuesday, even as the BJP’s vote share increased from 32.19 in 2015 to 38.5 per cent.
Mukherjee’s comments may also be viewed on the backdrop of the grand old party’s cosmetic alliance with ideologically opposite Shiv Sena with the sole motive to keep the BJP out of power in Mantralaya.
