The stage is set for a fierce political battle in Delhi as the assembly election schedule announced on January 7 heightened tensions in the capital. Key constituencies, including New Delhi, Kalkaji, and Jangpura, are emerging as battlegrounds for high-profile contenders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress.
Voters will head to the polls on February 5, with results scheduled for February 8.
In the New Delhi constituency, AAP leader and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is seeking to retain the seat he has held for over a decade. Kejriwal, who secured the seat in 2013, 2015, and 2020, faces formidable rivals, including BJP’s Parvesh Singh Verma, son of former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, and Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit, son of late Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Kejriwal won in 2020 by a margin of 21,687 votes.
Kalkaji in Southeast Delhi will witness another closely watched contest as Chief Minister Atishi seeks re-election. Atishi, who claimed the seat in 2020 with an 11,393-vote margin, faces BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri, a former South Delhi MP, and Congress’ Alka Lamba, president of the party’s women’s wing. Analysts predict a tighter race this year.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has shifted his focus from Patparganj to Jangpura, raising eyebrows. Sisodia narrowly retained Patparganj in 2020 by just 3,207 votes. In Jangpura, he will contend with BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah and Congress’ Farhad Suri in what is shaping up to be a closely fought battle.
The BJP has fielded Kapil Mishra, a former AAP leader now identified with hardline Hindutva politics, from Karawal Nagar. Mishra, who replaced sitting party MLA Mohan Singh Bisht, made several speeches, denounced as inflammatory by rival parties, just before communal riots broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
Further, Harish Khurana, son of former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana, will pick up the fight from the Moti Nagar constituency.
Delhi BJP’s Mandir Prakoshth (temple cell) chief Karnail Singh is the party’s candidate against sitting AAP MLA and former minister Satyendar Jain at Shakoor Basti seat.