Interview/ Devender Yadav, president, Delhi Congress
Q/ How do you assess the result?
A/ I’m happy with the work party cadres put in. Everyone was expecting the Congress to perform and the pulse of the people was towards the Congress this time. I agree that it didn’t translate into seats, but we improved our vote share and were able to convey to the people that we are very much in the fray as it was a three-cornered contest. I am hopeful that things will change in the coming days.
Q/ Who is your party’s bigger political enemy, the BJP or the AAP?
A/ I won’t say who the enemy is, but we feel the BJP is more harmful to the nation than any other party. Therefore, we will continue to fight against the BJP’s manner of functioning and the way it has been trying to weaken democracy and the Constitution.
Q/ Now that the BJP is in power, will the AAP and the Congress have to coordinate a joint strategy to counter it?
A/ Definitely not. The BJP is our main opponent. When it comes to Delhi, the AAP has not been able to deliver on its promises. They came to power claiming they will bring transparency and curb corruption. But they themselves got involved in corruption.
Q/ What is the primary reason for the Congress getting zero seats in the past three assembly elections?
A/ When the Congress was in power in Delhi, we worked for the development of Delhi... but somehow an impression was created that the government was corrupt. The AAP used to carry bundles of papers claiming it had proof to indict the Congress government, including the then chief minister (Sheila Dikshit) and her cabinet. But nothing happened. They played a game to fool people.
Q/ The Congress and the AAP are part of the INDIA bloc. Do you think it was the Congress’s responsibility to help the AAP, the main player in Delhi, win?
A/ It was the AAP leadership that decided to go it alone. Once we are in the fray, it becomes our duty to fight full on. Our zero seats is not the same kind of defeat we experienced in 2015 or 2020 because, at that juncture, the AAP had formed the government as a result of a major vote share of the Congress going to them. This time, however, we are beginning to reclaim that vote share.
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Q/ How do you intend to revive the Congress in Delhi? What have been the gains from these elections?
A/ Seven months ago, our primary concern was how to contest a good election. Now that we have time, we will be focusing on our organisational efforts. We will be focusing more on people who want to return and work with us.
Q/ As we saw in Haryana and Maharashtra, the opposition had a good chance but could not convert it into votes. What are the learnings?
A/ We have to build our organisational strength. Before I became Delhi in-charge, many people were leaving the Congress. Our Delhi unit president had left the party. I took up the responsibility as a challenge. Today, we have reached a level where our vote share is increasing. We will have to play the role of a healthy and strong opposition.
Q/ What is the final takeaway from the Delhi elections?
A/ I am satisfied, my leadership believes in me and the leadership gave us a lot of support to carry out the campaign. Our only drawback was that we were not able to secure even a single seat, but we are getting back our cadre base. Sympathisers who had shifted to the AAP have swung back to us. I see it as an opportunity to grow.