Congress Fields Alka Lamba Against CM Atishi in Delhi Elections

The Congress party has announced Alka Lamba as its candidate to contest against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Kalkaji constituency for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. The Central Election Committee confirmed the decision in a statement, stating that Ms. Lamba will represent the party in the high-stakes contest.

Ms. Lamba, who currently serves as the All India Mahila Congress President, has had a storied political journey. She began her career with the Congress' student wing, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), in 1994 at the age of 19 and was elected to the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) a year later. Over the years, she has shifted political allegiances, leaving the Congress in 2013 to join AAP. She won the Chandni Chowk assembly seat in 2015 as an AAP candidate but later returned to the Congress in 2019.

Sources suggest that Ms. Lamba was initially hesitant to contest from Kalkaji. This constituency is poised to witness a fierce battle as she faces AAP's Atishi, a prominent leader who now serves as the Chief Minister of Delhi. The contest is significant for Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years but has failed to win any seats in the last two Delhi assembly elections.

The announcement highlights Congress’ attempt to regain relevance in the Delhi political landscape, banking on experienced leaders like Alka Lamba to challenge AAP's stronghold.