``We tried to unite anti-BJP votes to defeat communal forces but unfortunately have not been able to do so,'' DPCC president Sheila Dikshit said at a `Face the media' programme organised by the Press Club of India.

Strongly defending the party decision to make H K L Bhagat and Sajjan Kumar, allegedly involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, in-charge for election affairs, she said the two leaders were not being nominated as candidates.

``They are experienced politicians and we can use their expertise for party work,'' she said.

Dikshit said the two leaders were only being suspected of involvement in riots and that nothing had been proved till now.

``Of course, once the law (court) decides, we will go by that,'' she said.

The DPCC chief evaded mostof the questions on list of candidates, whether she herself would contest or whether those with criminal records would be nominated.

``Wait till November 6 (when the party releases its list),'' she said.

The DPCC president said ``BJP has to answer the people on their mismanagement, indifferent and callous attitude during their five years of power.''

Accusing BJP of ``giving protection'' to hoarders and black-marketeers, she said they were responsible for the rise in prices of essential commodities, including onions, vegetables, pulses and edible oils.

Asked how her party would tackle price rise if it came to power, Dikshit said ``we will take hard steps including a crackdown on hoarders and black-marketeers. The public distribution system also needs to be strengthened to ensure the common man gets least affected by price rise.''

She said Congress was not projecting anybody as the chief ministerial candidate.

``Our chief minister or leader of the opposition would be chosen by our MLAs, as has beenthe party's practice,'' she added.

Meanwhile, the DPCC is divided over the issue of giving tickets to municipal councillors. While a section of the leadership is supporting the fact that veteran councillors should be given a chance to enter the fray, another section is opposing it with the fear that this would facilitate a coup among the ranks in the future.

Prominent among the councillors who are being considered for tickets are Harcharan Singh Josh, Mahabal Sharma, Trilok Massey and Narender Nath.

According to sources close to the Delhi Congress leadership, the initial enthusiasm about giving tickets to councillors has now ebbed. ``Some senior factional leaders are supporting these candidates. It is felt that if the councillors get tickets then the factions will once again become active and create problems in the future,'' they said.

The `factional' leaders, however, don't think so. ``Every big party has factions and leadership is all about bringing them together. How can tickets be denied to goodcandidates because of their connections with some factions?''