How Arvinder Singh Lovely’s resignation may hurt Congress in Delhi

A little over six months after he impressed the Congress’s national leadership by waving party flags in Sikh-dominated Tilak Nagar, marking the party’s return to an area scarred by the anti-Sikh riots, Arvinder Singh Lovely stepped down as the party’s Delhi Congress president for the second time in his career.

Pitching him as “Dilli ka Sardar”, the party was quick to declare the event a success at the time. A senior Delhi Congress leader said Lovely’s “proven success” at the rally paved the way for it to progressively reach out and tap into a larger section of Sikh voters in the Capital. His resignation, some in the state unit believe, is likely to hurt the AAP-Congress alliance in Assembly segments dominated by Sikhs.

“Many supporters, both dormant Congress workers as well as new ones, from the Sikh community who Lovely struck a chord with since October won’t be happy with the party over the allegations he has raised,” said the Congress functionary.

“This episode will have a negative impact on the AAP-Congress alliance in Assembly segments such as Tilak Nagar, Hari Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Laxmi Nagar, Civil Lines, and Jangpura, just to name a few which come under the West Delhi, North East Delhi, and Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seats,” the leader added.

Congress insiders said Lovely had been given the impression that he would be among several old party hands who would get a Lok Sabha ticket. He is said to have wanted to contest more Delhi North East but was left miffed with the decision to give the ticket to Kanhaiya Kumar. In his resignation letter, the former Delhi Congress chief also took aim at All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge Deepak Babaria.

Hinting at more resignations and exits in the coming days, the party