Delhi elections 2015: AK Walia reports to doctor, Congress gets jitters

NEW DELHI: Congress's heavyweight candidate from Laxmi Nagar gave his party some anxious moments on Tuesday when he reported sick. Through the day, the buzz was that he might opt out of the race because of his medical condition. At the close of day, DPCC functionaries were much relieved when doctors gave Walia the go-ahead to contest.

Walia was one of early Congressmen to file his nomination papers but Tuesday's unexpected turn of events caught the party off guard, Friday being the last day for withdrawal of nominations.

The party now hopes Walia will be back in the field campaigning in the constituency he has represented four times and lost only in 2013 to AAP. On Tuesday, DPCC made it clear that party workers would do everything to build a robust campaign for Walia.

Walia's candidature from Laxmi Nagar is critical for Congress, for without him the party, already struggling in city politics, would be further weakened. BJP has fielded municipal councillor in East Corporation BB Tyagi here. The AAP contestant is debutant Nitin Tyagi.

DPCC president Arvinder Singh denied reports of Walia opting out saying, "He is very much in the contest from laxmi Nagar and doctors have cleared him for the contest. He is absolutely fine." The party rubbished as "malicious" rumours that Walia was quitting the race because of the emergence of Ajay Maken as the party's face in the poll campaign.

Walia apparently went for a health check-up on Tuesday. He has a history of diabetes and high blood pressure. The party refused to discuss Walia's health concerns but conceded he had indeed taken ill. Sources said medical tests on the Congress nominee were on till the evening. When news of an all clear came through, the party heaved a sigh of relief.

If Laxmi Nagar was in the news for Walia, Congress was forced to announce a replacement in Rajouri Garden.

Candidate Dhanwantri Chandela, wife of former MLA Dayanand Chandila, fractured her leg and had to be dropped. She was replaced by her councillor daughter-in-law Meenakshi.

The AICC ended the speculation over Gandhi Nagar after DPCC chief Arvinder Singh withdrew his candidature.

Congress has justified the withdrawal citing this as a move to boost the party's revival under Singh. Surender Sharma, block president from that area, will now fight from here.