MCD Polls: Kapil Sibal calls out Congress for 'sidelining' veteran leaders

Admitting that lack of unity was a contributing factor to the Congress not winning the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls which was swept by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal called out the party for sidelining veteran leaders responsible for the party's previous successes.

"The party should have gone into this election taking those along who are responsible for changing the face of Delhi. When a crisis erupts, everyone from veterans to new leaders should be brought in," Sibal told ANI. "This is where we lost, but we should learn from our mistakes. Battles need unity and can't be fought alone."

However, the senior leader asserted that the Congress had witnessed a significant increase in their voter percentage, proving that they were still a popular option among Delhiites.

"People of Delhi know that if any party has brought true development to Delhi, then it is the Congress. The proof of our 15 years of governance is still visible and people are aware of it," he said.

Talking about the thumping defeat handed out the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Sibal further emphasised that the result was a warning that the people of Delhi will not take kindly to being neglected by the government.

Being careful to not implicate Congress Delhi unit chief Ajay Maken, who offered to resign post the loss, Sibal noted that any decision taken by the former for the MCD polls was for the benefit of the party, and it would be unwise to accuse him of anything else.

"Whatever step Maken took before going into polls, I'm sure it was for the benefit of the party. Maybe he thought that bringing in youth leaders would have garnered more young votes. But with experience you come to know that you can't be alone," he said.

Expressing confidence that the Congress can still make a comeback in Delhi, Sibal stated that Congress must work on bringing back those who have left the party, stressing on the need for unity now more than ever.

Following the party's dismal performance in the MCD polls, the Congress admitted that they fought more on individual lines than collectively.

"The factual matter is the election on behalf of Congress seems to have been fought more on individual lines than party polling together. This is not private junket or individual enterprise. This has to be done collectively," Congress leader KTS Tulsi told ANI.

Post MCD polls results, the Congress witnessed spat of resignations as party Delhi chief Ajay Maken, party Delhi in-charge P.C. Chacko and AICC General Secretary Gurudas Kamat offered to step down.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yesterday swept the polls to Delhi's three municipal corporations, North, East and South winning 181 seats out of 270 seats.

The party succeeded in retaining power in the three civic bodies for the third consecutive term.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stood second with 48 seats, while Congress retained third position with 29 seats.

12 seats went to others including Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Independents