Lok Sabha polls 2014: Interesting battle on the cards in East Delhi

NEW DELHI: Home to a large part of the city's migrant population, Muslims and resettlement colonies, the East Delhi constituency is set for an interesting poll battle. Two-term Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit faces BJP's Maheish Girri and Aam Aadmi Party's Rajmohan Gandhi, who has lineage, clean image and a baniya background going for him.

East Delhi has gained big infrastructure - Metro, Barapullah elevated road, etc - during Dikshit's two consecutive terms but many areas still have bad roads, water scarcity and poor sanitation. Dikshit may still get the anti-Modi and anti-AAP middle-class and upper-class votes, but will have to overcome anti-incumbency and his party's rout in the assembly polls. His mother, former chief minister Sheila Dikshit, suffered her most humiliating defeat at the hands of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, and Congress won only three of the 10 assembly seats in East Delhi.

Analysts say Dikshit is fighting to maintain his grip on Congress' traditional voters, many of whom have switched loyalty to AAP. His campaign is focused on development and he says, "What happened in the Delhi assembly elections will not be repeated in the Lok Sabha elections''.

AAP performed rather well in the assembly elections, winning five out of 10 East Delhi seats. Analysts say AAP could now take the lead in areas like Krishna Nagar, which was won by BJP's chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan but has many Congress supporters. Khureji, where Muslims are an influential group, has traditionally voted Congress but is leaning towards AAP this time. The party enjoys a similar advantage in colonies with a high percentage of migrants from east UP and Bihar because many BSP leaders in Delhi have joined it.

"AAP's vote bank is mainly in the resettlement colonies and lower-class populations. The party is likely to get Muslim votes as well, which will be split with Congress. The middle and upper classes, however, have largely become disillusioned with AAP after its seven weeks in government,'' said an analyst.

BJP's Maheish Girri, a Maharashtrian with no ties to Delhi, was a surprise selection for East Delhi but his close ties with Modi followers helped him secure this seat. He worked with Kejriwal in the India Against Corruption campaign and is associated with the Art of Living movement. Only a strong Modi wave and the traditional BJP voters can help him secure the seat. Girri, though, says he has been working in the constituency for three years and knows every nook and corner.

Analysts say Girri is likely to use his experience of IAC to target Kejriwal. Brahmins, Punjabis and Baniyas are likely to vote BJP. The Modi factor will play a large role in securing BJP votes in the constituency. The corruption cloud over Congress and AAP's poor showing in government may also push votes its way. Girri dismisses his rivals as "someone asking for votes based on his mother (Sandeep) and someone else based on his grandfather (Rajmohan)".