Delhi polls: It will be a do-or-die battle for all in 'mini India'
For BJP, this constituency is critical because it is through "Kejriwal's defeat" that the party will be able to take forward the "Modi wave" slogan.
By Ambika Pandit, TNN |
NEW DELHI: Referred to as "mini India" with a well-defined middle-class base, the New Delhi assembly constituency is home to government employees whose vote will decide whether former CM ArvindKejriwal will be able to retain this seat or not.
For BJP, this constituency is critical because it is through "Kejriwal's defeat" that the party will be able to take forward the "Modi wave" slogan. And for Congress, it will be a do-or-die battle to regain this seat which used to be the stronghold of three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit. With no clear successor after Dikshit, the seat is being represented by former minister Kiran Walia this time.
As Delhi witnessed winds of change in 2013, this quiet constituency had elected Kejriwal, pushing Dikshit to the margin. This also brought 15 years of Congress' rule to an end. While Kejriwal's campaign against corruption and promise of change attracted voters in 2013, this time AAP carries the burden of explaining to the voters its turbulent 49 days in government and why it quit in a huff. AAP also has to face challenges from BJP's new line-up of functionaries who were once part of Kejriwal's anti-corruption crusade such as former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and AAP members Shazia Ilmi and Vinod Kumar Binny.
Problems of "bijli, paani, sadak aur makaan" are not pressing issues here except for the lone urbanized Pilanji village, a few slum clusters and parts of middle-income settlements like BK Dutt Colony and Karbala.
The rest of constituency is dominated by government quarters and tranquil bunglow zones in Lutyens' Delhi, Sunder Nagar and Golf Links etc.
For BJP, this constituency is critical because it is through "Kejriwal's defeat" that the party will be able to take forward the "Modi wave" slogan. And for Congress, it will be a do-or-die battle to regain this seat which used to be the stronghold of three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit. With no clear successor after Dikshit, the seat is being represented by former minister Kiran Walia this time.
As Delhi witnessed winds of change in 2013, this quiet constituency had elected Kejriwal, pushing Dikshit to the margin. This also brought 15 years of Congress' rule to an end. While Kejriwal's campaign against corruption and promise of change attracted voters in 2013, this time AAP carries the burden of explaining to the voters its turbulent 49 days in government and why it quit in a huff. AAP also has to face challenges from BJP's new line-up of functionaries who were once part of Kejriwal's anti-corruption crusade such as former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and AAP members Shazia Ilmi and Vinod Kumar Binny.
Problems of "bijli, paani, sadak aur makaan" are not pressing issues here except for the lone urbanized Pilanji village, a few slum clusters and parts of middle-income settlements like BK Dutt Colony and Karbala.
The rest of constituency is dominated by government quarters and tranquil bunglow zones in Lutyens' Delhi, Sunder Nagar and Golf Links etc.
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