Congress doesn’t see AAP as factor in civic polls

New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) The Delhi Congress on Monday said it is looking at a straight contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming civic body polls, and not with the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

"I think our fight is with the BJP, not the AAP. Woh (BJP) abhi josh me hain (They are high on power). On the other hand, the AAP has been exposed. The Punjab and Goa results are for all to see," senior Delhi Congress leader and former Speaker of Delhi Assembly Subhash Chopra told IANS.

Asked about a few Congress leaders quitting the party and a few other seniors threatening to do so, Chopra said that although there is "some resentment", true Congressmen would not desert the party.

"Of course, there is some resentment in the party. And that is natural because there were 10-12 aspirants for each seat, but the ticket could be given to only one.

"Those who did not get tickets, or senior leaders whose choice candidates were not given ticket are bound to be somewhat unhappy. But that does not mean they are quitting the party," Chopra said.

He said that Ashok Kumar Walia "did not even once" speak of quitting the Congress, and that words were put into Walia's mouth.

"I have spoken to him just now and he said that he did not say anything to that effect," Chopra said.

He said that Amrish Gautam quit the party because his son was not given a ticket.

"Quitting your party because your son was not given a ticket? A true Congressman would never do that," he said.

Chopra said that a transparent method of ticket distribution was adopted this time around.

"Candidate's winnability and workers' choice were the criteria (for giving tickets). As many as 39,000 Congress workers were contacted over telephone before making a final choice," he said.