By – Rohit Dwivedi
As the Delhi Assembly elections approach, Congress is set to release its second list of candidates today. According to reports, a meeting of senior Congress leaders is underway to finalize candidates for various constituencies, and 28 seats have already been decided upon. Among the prominent names in this list is Alka Lamba, who is expected to contest against Chief Minister Atishi from the Kalkaji seat. Additionally, Asim Ahmed Khan, who recently switched from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to Congress, may also receive a ticket from the party.
The discussions regarding the candidate list have been focused on 28 constituencies, while talks for other seats are still ongoing. In the Kalkaji constituency, Alka Lamba, a former Congress leader who previously switched to the AAP, is likely to be nominated to contest against CM Atishi, who currently represents the seat. Lamba’s entry into the race is being seen as a significant move for Congress, especially given her political background and influence in the region.
Other key candidates for the upcoming election include Rajesh Lilohtia from Seemapuri, Farhad Suri from Jungpura, and Devendra Sahrawat from Bijwasan. In a notable development, Asim Ahmed Khan, a former AAP MLA from the Matia Mahal constituency, is expected to be the Congress candidate for this seat. Khan, who served as the Food Supply Minister in the Delhi government from 2015 to 2020, joined Congress recently. His decision to leave AAP and join Congress is seen as a strategic move, especially since his entry could help strengthen Congress’s position among minority voters in the region.
Asim Ahmed Khan’s political journey has been a roller-coaster ride. In 2015, he won the Matia Mahal seat with a significant margin under the AAP banner. However, his tenure as the Food Supply Minister ended after he was removed from the position amid corruption allegations. Despite this, his move to Congress is being regarded as a key development in Delhi’s political landscape, as it is expected to provide Congress with a boost in the upcoming elections.
The finalization of candidates for the Delhi Assembly elections is gaining momentum, and with Alka Lamba and Asim Ahmed Khan in the race, Congress is hoping to make significant inroads into the city’s political scene. The second list of candidates will be crucial for the party as it continues to strengthen its position in the face of tough competition from both AAP and the BJP.