Five Delhi Congress legislators Monday met party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed to demand that a Muslim candidate be fielded from the capital's North East constituency for the Lok Sabha polls.They also sought a change of face in the North West district, represented by union Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath.Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely was also present at the meeting.The legislators proposed the name of Congress leader Mateen Ahmed for the North East seat held by the party's former Delhi president Jai Prakash Agarwal, said a party source.Interestingly, the party's internal election to elect a candidate in the North East between Agarwal and another leader Rajesh Lilothia is due Tuesday.
"There are around four lakh Muslim voters in the constituency. There is a need to consolidate these votes, otherwise the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) will eat into Congress' traditional votes," one of the five lawmakers told IANS.In North West -- reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate -- the lawmakers suggested the name of Jai Kishan who is also a legislator."There is resentment against Tirathji in the constituency," another party source told IANS."We have assured these MLAs their message will be conveyed to the party high command," Shakeel Ahmed told IANS.Meanwhile, the party's Central Election Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday and is likely to announce the second list of candidates for the general elections.