Delhi polls 2015: BJP fights hard to win back lost base

NEW DELHI: A BJP bastion for 15 years till AAP changed everything in December 2013 assembly election, Shalimar Bagh is now one of the most keenly contested seats.

In 2013, AAP's Bandana Kumari defeated BJP's Ravinder Nath Bansal by over 10,000 votes, ending a golden run of the party that lasted from 1993 to 2008. Congress was pushed to the third spot. Now, both BJP and Congress are trying to win back the lost support of the middle class, scheduled caste, Muslims and slum dwellers. BJP, in fact, hopes that Modi magic will still work.

But, AAP's magic seems to be on the wane. "There are many who feel AAP should be given a second chance. But the number of people backing that party has declined. Congress is definitely not an option. So BJP should be the gainer," Sukhbir Singh, a resident of Block BF, said.

Locals seem to be disillusioned with AAP. "I am not so sure of the party anymore. They are practising the same kind of politics which BJP and Congress are known for," Mohit Goel, a resident of Block BM west, said.

Apart from upscale colonies, the seat comprises Shalimar Village, Singalpur village, Haiderpur village and Sahipur village. There is a large slum area too. The constituency has more than 20 schools, a shopping complex, DDA Market and DDA flats.