Delhi Elections: Rahul Gandhi To Address Poll Rally In Capital On Monday

The Congress on Wednesday promised free health insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh as part of Jeevan Raksha Yojana, if the party is voted to power in Delhi.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will likely be addressing an election rally in Delhi on January 13 ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in the national capital next month.

This comes as the political ground in the city is heating with the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and the Bharatiya Janata Party pitted against each other in a high-stakes three-cornered electoral contest. The Election Commission announced that the Delhi Assembly election will be held in a single phase on February 5, followed by the counting of votes and results declaration on February 8.

Congress has pitted former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's son Sandeep Dikshit against AAP supremo and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi Assembly constituency. Dikshit is a two-time parliamentarian and will compete against Kejriwal, who has defeated Sheila Dikshit twice from the seat on 2013 and 2015.

Meanwhile, the grand old party has fielded Alka Lamba, President of the All-India Mahila Congress, as its candidate against incumbent Delhi CM Atishi from the Kalkaji seat. Lamba, a former AAP leader and ex-legislator from Chandni Chowk, will be challenging Atishi, who is seeking a re-election from the same Assembly.

The Congress on Wednesday promised free health insurance of up to Rs 25 lakh as part of 'Jeevan Raksha Yojana', if the party is voted to power in Delhi. Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot expressed confidence that this scheme would prove to be a game-changer for the party and also claimed that the chances of the party returning to power in the national capital are "increasing". 

Gehlot said the proposed scheme would provide comprehensive health coverage to families, including medical expenses for critical illnesses, hospitalisations, and treatments. "Bringing back Congress in Delhi is very important. Sheila Dikshit gave excellent governance and the modern Delhi. We would like to bring that era back in the national capital," he said.

 Meanwhile, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav also said that the scheme saw tremendous success in Rajasthan and was thus launched in Delhi as well.

Congress had also announced 'Pyaari Didi Yojana' scheme on Monday, promising a monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to women if voted to power in Delhi.