NEW DELHI, October 23: Former Union minister H.K.L. Bhagat today said that he is ready to contest the Assembly elections if the Congress president Sonia Gandhi asked him to. He also felt the the 1984 Sikh riots would not be ``much of an issue'' in this election.Speaking at a combined press conference on poll tie-ups, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Sheila Dikshit said, ``There is always scope for poll alliances. In the Congress, all the doors and windows are open. Anyone can walk in''.
The press conference was organised by Bhagat, who is also the convenor of the Delhi Congress' Campaign Committee, to announce that the party's campaign in the Capital may be launched by Sonia Gandhi. ``The date and venue would be decided later keeping in mind security concerns,'' Bhagat said. A meeting of the campaign committee was held on October 21. The panel decided that the emphasis would be on minorities, women, Sikhs, backward classes, resettlement colonies and slums.
The Congress campaign would also stress on BJP Government's failures and highlight the lack of civic amenities, deteriorating law and order, floods and spread of epidemics.
On the possibility of his son Deepak Bhagat contesting elections this time, he said, ``That is his decision''.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.