Vinit Wahi/ AMN
In a bid to woo voters from Bihar and Poorvanchal in run-up to April 23 municipal corporations of Delhi elections, the Congress today managed to rope in Poonam Azad, wife of estranged BJP MP Kirti Azad ,into its fold. She had recently joined the AAP.
With about 30-35 per cent of total electorate in Delhi consisting of people from Poorvanchal and Bihar, the Congress obviously is looking at electoral gains with her joining the party today in the presence of the Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken and AICC general secretary in charge, Delhi, P C Chacko. She would be effectively raising the voice of our brethren from these two regions, an upbeat Maken told media while welcoming Poonam and some other local AAP leaders and workers into his party.
He also dismissed reports of certain party leaders not being active in the MCD poll campaign and said a list of 90 senior leaders including former chief minister Sheila Dikshit and ex MPs, ministers and MLAs from Delhi besides other states has been prepared who would be campaigning for party candidates in different wards. We have already sent them letters in this regard, he added.
Talking to media later, Poonam Azad said from her heart she always continued to be a Congress worker. At times as a human being you tend to make a mistake and so did i, she said when asked why she was joining Congress. In fact, my father and father-in-law Bhagwat Jha Azad, who was ex-chief minister of Bihar, had always been Congressmen, she remarked.
In reply to another question whether her husband would follow the suit, she said nothing can be ruled out. But only time will tell that. In fact, it is my own personal decision and right decision at the right time, she added when asked how Kirti Azad has reacted to this.