Turf war over Delhi Congress: PC Chacko writes to ailing Sheila

The infighting in Delhi Congress took a new turn on Wednesday when AICC incharge PC Chacko authorised the three working presidents to work freely citing the bad health of Sheila Dikshit, seen as an attempt to dilute her powers.

In his letter, Chacko expressed displeasure that his earlier directions were not implemented and some so-called spokespersons of the party were issuing irresponsible statements and questioning the decisions of AICC incharge. He said that Assembly elections in Delhi are a few months away and the working of Delhi Congress Committee has to be streamlined as early as possible.

"As you are not keeping well and hospitalised and I did not receive any reply to my letters, in the interest of the party, I am authorising the working presidents to hold meetings of district and block presidents in their respective areas and take appropriate decisions to activate the party and report to you the decisions taken," Chacko wrote to Dikshit.

Following the letter, Sheila issued an action note of her own assigning different set of responsibilities to the working presidents. Working president Haroon Yusuf was allocated supervision of East Delhi Munic-ipal Corporation, four Assembly segments (Timarpur, Burari, Okhla and Jungpura), Mahila Congress, Sewa Dal and NSUI.

Devender Yadav was assigned South Delhi Municipal Corporation and Youth Congress, while Rajesh Lilothia was allocated North Delhi Municipal Corporation and cells of Delhi Congress.

Earlier, Dikshit dissolved all 280 block committees and started the process of selecting new block presidents by appointing district and block observers.

In a letter to Dikshit last Sunday, Chacko overturned her decision to dissolve the block committees.

The three working presidents too wrote to Dikshit expressing sadness that decisions were being taken unilaterally without even informing them.