Delhi assembly poll: Sheila Dikshit, Harsh Vardhan file nomination papers

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today filed her nomination papers from New Delhi assembly constituency and exuded confidence that Congress will retain power for a record fourth term.

75-year-old Dikshit, accompanied by her son and MP Sandeep Dikshit and daughter Latika, submitted her nomination papers before the Returning officer Sanjiv Gupta at Jamnagar House here.

A large number of workers gathered at the SDM office in Shahjahan Road and shouted slogans in favour of Dikshit and Congress.

"I am confident that Congress will retain power in Delhi," she told reporters after filing the nominations.

Dikshit faces a three-cornered contest in the constituency as BJP has fielded former party unit chief Vijayender Gupta while AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is the other main contender.

She has been representing the New Delhi constituency since 1998.

BJP's Chief Ministerial nominee Harsh Vardhan also filed his nomination papers for Krishna Nagar constituency.

Vardhan filed his nomination at Deputy Commissioner's office at Geeta Colony in East Delhi. He was accompanied by Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel, senior party leader V K Malhotra and a large number of BJP workers.

Speaking to reporters, Vardhan asserted that the contest will be between BJP and Congress and said AAP was not a serious player in the election battle.

"It has always been a fight between the Congress and BJP in Delhi and it will be the same again," he said.

He insisted that there was no infighting in the BJP and that all leaders are working unitedly to defeat the Congress.

Senior Delhi Congress leader and Health Minister A K Walia also filed his nomination at DC's office in Geeta Colony.

A total of 89 candidates had filed their nominations till Wednesday after the process started on November 9. November 16 is the last date for filing nominations.