Maken steps up anti-Dikshit campaign

Trouble continued for Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today over the issue of power tariffs, even as she tried to curb dissidence in her party by doling out posts to legislators opposing her.

Sources in Delhi Congress confirmed that at least 28 MLAs, including Tarvinder Singh Marwah, Surinder Singh, Malaram Gangwal, Vir Singh Dhingan, Shaadi Ram and SC Vatsa today decided to bypass Dikshit and take their problems to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

This is after the Delhi government refusing to accept their demand that no subsidy be given to power distribution companies once the hike in the power tariffs is rolled back. A memorandum to this effect, signed by at least 31 MLAs, will be presented to Gandhi.

Dikshit is facing a near-revolt situation in her Cabinet with Finance Minister AK Walia and Power Minister Haroon Yusuf privately insisting that they would not represent the chief minister at a Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) meeting, to be held tomorrow to discuss the issue. Walia is miffed that he had been made to listen to complaints which the chief minister should have attended to.

"I am damned if I defend the chief minister and damned as well if I don't," he is reported to have said.

Yusuf feels that he has been made a fall-guy for the problems arising out of the privatisation of the erstwhile Delhi Vidyut Board.