New Delhi, January 16: The newly-appointed Delhi Congress Chief, Sheila Dikshit, will officially take charge from today, January 16, 2019. Speaking to reporters on the occasion, the former Delhi CM said that "politics is full of challenges, and we (Congress) will strategise accordingly. However, Dikshit made it clear that "there is nothing on alliance with AAP yet", on the question of speculations over an alliance between the ruling AAP and the Congress for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Sheila Dikshit vs Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi Again? Former CM Appointed As Delhi Congress Chief.

She was appointed as the Delhi party unit head by Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, January 10, 2019. Devender Yadav, Rajesh Lilothia and Haroon Yusuf were appointed as working presidents to assist the former Delhi chief minister. Sheila Dikshit on Congress Alliance With AAP in 2019: Open to Idea Provided High Command Shows Green Signal.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and in-charge of Delhi unit, PC Chacko, while announcing the appointment of Dikshit as new president, said there were no talks within the Delhi unit about an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and it was fully prepared to contest the parliamentary election on its own.

"I have no opinion just now that I would like to share. Let me get involved and understand the situation from top to downwards and then only I will react to it," Dikshit said reacting to speculations on her party joining hands with the AAP in Delhi.

Multiple sources in the two parties, however, claimed that the chances of alliance for the general elections have brightened with the appointment of Dikshit. Chacko had earlier said that the issue of Congress's alliance with other parties will be decided by the AK Antony committee of the party. Dikshit has replaced Ajay Maken, who was opposed to any alliance with the AAP that he bitterly criticised over issues of governance and corruption. (With PTI Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 16, 2019 12:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).