Delhi polls 2015: Regional parties like Shiv Sena, DMK, INLD and others play spoilsport

NEW DELHI: The battle for Delhi might be a Kiran Bedi vs Arvind Kejriwal duel but all major national and regional political parties are making their presence felt in the forthcoming polls.

Delhi is playing the true national capital as regional parties like Shiv Sena, DMK, J&K National Panthers Party, Ajit Singh-led RLD and INLD are showing keen interest in the political fight.

While some regional parties have always fielded candidates in certain constituencies, this time their presence could make the battle tougher for the major players BJP, AAP and Congress.

The smaller parties could tilt the balance in constituencies witnessing a close fight. Shiv Sena might have an alliance with BJP at the Centre but it is contesting 18 seats in Delhi. NCP has fielded candidates on seven seats, JD (U) on three and RLD on two seats. The Left Front has decided to fight Delhi elections unitedly. CPM Delhi state committee secretary KM Tiwari says, “Seven Left parties have come together and decided to fight Delhi elections together. Last time we had fielded candidates on a few seats.” Tiwari brushed aside suggestions that their presence would split votes and benefit BJP. “We are working to defeat BJP. We might not win any seats but we have to present an alternative to the people. If we don’t fight just because of the fear that we would split the anti-BJP vote and benefit BJP we would never be able to tell the electorate our policies.”

Working on a similar political logic, RLD, which has traditionally worked in UP, Haryana and Rajasthan, has fielded two candidates.