Dikshit says Cong will bounce back in fresh Delhi polls

Shrugging off the humiliating defeat to Congress and herself in the election, former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit was back in action on Monday as she exhorted party workers to get ready for fresh polls and attacked Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Admi Party for making "impossible promises" to get votes.

Addressing a gathering of party workers at her residence -- her first after the December 4 elections, Dikshit said Congress will "bounce back" if assembly elections are held again in the city to end the current "instability".

"It seems the apprehension (of fresh election) is going to be reality as an era of in-stability is hovering over the city. I am confident that Congress will bounce back as we did every time we lagged behind," she said.

Dikshit's address to the workers came in the backdrop of stepping down of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief J P Agarwal from the post taking moral responsibility for the defeat in the polls in which Congress managed to win only eight seats in the 70-member assembly.

Asking the party workers to start preparation for polls, Dikshit told them to leave the disappointment of the defeat "behind" and work unitedly to ensure Congress' "thumping victory in the time to come".

Slamming BJP and AAP for declining to form the government, Dikshit said Congress has been consistently working for the people and expressed confidence that when people vote again, they will keep in mind her performance in the last 15 years.

"Both the major parties in the new assembly have been running away from their responsibilities of government formation as they are not sure about their governing capabilities. These parties made impossible promises to people during elections," she said.

The AAP had promised to cut power tariff by 50 per cent and supply 700 litres of water free to each household daily while the BJP had said that it will slash the electricity rates by 30 per cent.

Dikshit said she has confidence in the capabilities of the party workers. "If you take a vow to work hard sincerely, the party can return to power."

She also expressed apprehensions of slowing down of implementation of various infrastructure projects in Delhi in the next few months as both BJP and AAP declined to form the government.

The Congress workers apprised Dikshit about the "indifferent attitude" of the DPCC, saying there was no cooperation from the party. Last week, Dikshit had attacked Agarwal saying he did not enthusiastically back her in the polls.

The workers requested Dikshit to appraise party high command about their views.

Former Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami, who was defeated in the polls, was also present in the meeting.