Not 'UP' for it: Sheila Dikshit will not be Congress' CM candidate in UP polls

Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, currently battling corruption allegations, has declined the Congress’ offer to become its chief ministerial candidate for the Uttar Pradesh elections, an NDTV report said. According to the report, Dikshit has cited time constraints as the reason for her decision. Earlier, the 78-year-old Congress leader had said that she was willing to play ‘any role’ in either Uttar Pradesh or Punjab, both of which will see elections next year, according to a DNA report. [caption id=“attachment_2858198” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Sheila Dikshit. PTI[/caption] Both the elections will be major tests for the Congress, as it seeks to emerge from the disappointment of the recent poll results in Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala. Uttar Pradesh, with 403 Assembly seats and 80 Lok Sabha seats, is arguably the state that has the most importance for national politics. Earlier this month, speculations were rife that poll strategist Prashant Kishor  wanted the Congress to field Dikshit as its CM candidate in UP. Kishor reportedly had sought a Brahmin face for the campaign, in a bid to win back the community which had shifted allegiance from the Congress to the BJP in the aftermath of the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation. However, Dikshit is presently facing allegations of corruption in a Rs 400-crore ’tanker scam’ in Delhi. The alleged irregularities happened in 2012, when the Delhi Jal Board hired 385 water tankers from private contractors. Following speculations over Dikshit being offered the responsibility in UP, an article on _Firstpost_ by Sanjay Singh had contended that it may be a case of making her a sacrificial lamb in the state, as the chances of the Congress facing another poll debacle are high. Pointing to unrest in the Congress party in the state, the article pointed out that the state president, Nirmal Khatri, was not present at the very first meeting convened by the newly appointed party in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad, on the plea of a backache. Also, half a dozen Congress MLAs didn’t vote for party nominee Kapil Sibal in the 11 June Rajya Sabha polls.