Sheila Dikshit says decision on AAP-Congress alliance could change, claims Narendra Modi's return unlikely in 2019

Even though both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have publicly denied any possibility of an alliance between them, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sheila Dixit in an exclusive interview with Firstpost hinted that the decision not to ally with AAP could change if the situation demands so. Diskhit was asked whether or not the lack of a seat-sharing agreement between the Congress and the AAP would weaken the chances of winning for both the parties due to the division of votes in the Lok Sabha polls to be held after two months. She said, “In politics, we cannot predict what will happen after two months or even after two weeks. Decisions are taken keeping tab with new developments in the field.” [caption id=“attachment_4239133” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit. PTI[/caption] Denying to comment further on the subject at that very moment she said, “Tomorrow you will ask me why I took a certain decision when something else was decided upon earlier. This is not right.” When asked whether she meant that her party might change its earlier decision not to ally with the AAP, the octogenarian politician in a rather defensive note sidestepped by saying, “I am not going to say the words which you are trying to put in my mouth.” Dikshit’s statement comes three days after both the parties announced not to ally in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls with each other. Amidst a spat with the Congress over the national capital’s water and power tariffs, AAP leader and Delhi labour minister Gopal Rai had said three days back, “Despite disagreement within the party, a view emerged that we are willing to drink the poison of the Congress. But the way Congress in-charges have spoken, it appears that for the Congress, their arrogance is greater than the country." Denying any possibility of an alliance with the Congress, Rai also announced that the AAP would field candidates in all constituencies in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. On the other hand, the DPCC chief had earlier maintained ruling out any possibility of talks of alliance with the AAP, “No, there have not been any talks and nor are there going to be any talks of alliance with the AAP.” But Dikshit’s statement in the interview with Firstpost suggests that the party has decided to keep options of alliance with the AAP open. Dikshit who had been Delhi chief minister for three terms since 1998 has recently taken over as the chief of the Delhi chapter months before the Lok Sabha polls. This is not the first time the grand old party has roped her in as a troubleshooter, but this is certainly one of her toughest assignments as she has to start everything from scratch in Delhi. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, her party lost all the seven parliamentary seats to the BJP. On the other hand, in the Assembly polls held a year later, the Congress lost all the Assembly seats. In this regard, she says, “We have accepted results of all the elections with equanimity. People change their minds and vote accordingly. We do not complain about it.” However, responding to questions related to the recent efforts for a nationwide grand alliance against the ruling NDA and the row over the prime ministerial candidate triggered by DMK chief MK Stalin, Dikshit said, “The talks of an alliance is on but not yet finalised. People differ in their opinions and there is nothing surprising about it.” Significantly, Stalin’s view projecting Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate was not accepted by many in the Opposition. When asked how she is getting ready to face the Narendra Modi magic which controlled the narrative of 2014 Lok Sabha polls she said, “I do not term it as ‘Modi magic’. But it was certainly a success on his part to win the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, which is unlikely to be repeated again.”