by Ajay Kumar
Lucknow : The political activity for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections has intensified. This election could mark a major turning point in Indian politics, especially in the context of Delhi. After being out of power for the last 11 years, Congress has once again entered the fray to reclaim its lost ground in Delhi. After severe defeats in the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections, Congress has realized that its only chance to make a political comeback in Delhi is by standing against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The party’s strategy now focuses on re-establishing Congress’s existence and strengthening its claim to power in Delhi.
Congress has had a significant historical presence in Delhi. From 1993 to 2013, the party had a dominant hold over Delhi, with Sheila Dikshit serving as the Chief Minister for 15 years. However, since Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party entered politics, Congress has been pushed out of Delhi’s power. In both the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections, Congress failed to win even a single seat, while AAP triumphed repeatedly. Now, Congress has begun preparations for the 2025 Assembly elections, with a plan not only to return to power but also to reclaim its lost identity and voter base in Delhi.
Congress leaders have made it clear that this time, they will not give a free pass to Arvind Kejriwal and his party under any circumstances. The party has devised a strong strategy for this. On one hand, Congress plans to field its prominent leaders in various parts of Delhi, while on the other hand, it has openly declared war against both AAP and the BJP. Congress has especially started attacking Kejriwal’s government and its policies.
To contest the election effectively, Congress has selected some prominent faces who will challenge the leading AAP figures. The first such move was naming Sandeep Dikshit, the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, as the candidate from the New Delhi seat. Sandeep Dikshit himself is a well-known figure in Delhi politics, having previously served as a Member of Parliament. By fielding Sandeep Dikshit from New Delhi, Congress has sent a clear message that it will offer a strong challenge to Kejriwal.
Congress has not only targeted Kejriwal but also key leaders like Manish Sisodia. For the Jangpura seat, Congress has fielded Farhad Suri, who has been a councillor in the Nizamuddin Ward since 1996 and is considered to have strong support from both Muslim and Punjabi voters. Additionally, Congress has chosen Devender Yadav, the state president, to contest from the Badli seat. On the Patparganj seat, former state president and legislator Chaudhary Anil Kumar will challenge Awadh Ojha. For the Ballimaran seat, where Delhi Minister Imran Hussain is the incumbent, Congress has fielded Haroon Yusuf. For the Sultanpur Majra seat, Congress has nominated Jai Kishan, a prominent Dalit face of the party in Delhi. Mohammad Asim has been fielded against Shoaib Iqbal’s son in the Matia Mahal seat, while Haji Ishraq has been selected for the Babarpur seat against Gopal Rai, aiming for the Muslim vote.
In its overall strategy, Congress is determined to emerge as the main opposition to Kejriwal’s government in Delhi. To this end, Congress has also released a white paper highlighting the failures of the Kejriwal government. The party has accused both Kejriwal and the central government of deceiving the people of Delhi. The white paper points to the government’s failures in areas like health, education, roads, and other basic infrastructures.
Congress leader Ajay Maken, while releasing the white paper, also recited a poem that expressed his anger against the Kejriwal government. The poem reads, “Every time, it’s betrayal, During the pandemic, there was a pile of corpses, only Central Vista and glass palaces were showered with love, 1780 crores in pension forgotten for the elderly, bulldozers on slums, 2.80 lakh people made homeless…” Through this poem, Congress highlighted that the Kejriwal government has ignored the issues of the common people of Delhi.
Congress also filed an FIR with the Delhi Police. The Youth Congress lodged a complaint alleging that AAP had committed fraud in two major schemes – the Sanjeevani Yojana and the Mahila Samman Yojana. Youth Congress president Akshay Lakra questioned how AAP could make claims about these schemes when the concerned departments had denied them. This further escalated tensions between Congress and AAP.
Ajay Maken also stated that supporting AAP in Delhi was Congress’s biggest mistake, the consequences of which the people of Delhi are suffering today. He described the 40-day support given to Kejriwal’s government in 2013 as the party’s greatest blunder. Maken further criticized the alliance between Congress and AAP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, calling it a serious mistake. He also accused Kejriwal of collaborating with the BJP on various issues such as Article 370, the Uniform Civil Code, and the CAA.
Nevertheless, Congress has prepared its full strength and strategy for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. Party leaders have made it clear that this time they will not let Kejriwal remain in power in Delhi under any circumstances. Congress has already taken steps on all strategic fronts, and its aim this time is not just to win the election but to restore its lost identity and re-establish its active role in Delhi’s politics. The party is now focused on regaining its lost power and playing an active part in Delhi’s political landscape once again.
