Lok Sabha Election 2019: Advantage BJP in Delhi as AAP, Congress battle for spoils

The national capital is all set for a triangular fight between Congress, BJP and AAP in all seven Lok Sabha constituencies, going to polls in the sixth phase on May 12. Besides its star cast, BJP is banking on PM Modi's charisma and nationalism pitch, while the Congress and AAP are banking on middle-class voters and support from Muslims and Dalits. AAP and Congress, after failing to form an alliance in Delhi, will see a division in their vote bank, which will eventually help the saffron party as both the parties have same vote bank.

The Congress, with the comeback of their veteran leader and former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, could put a slight dent on the votes of the BJP. Earlier, due to the difference of opinion between Congress leader Ajay Maken, Dikshit and senior leaders the party was unable to come out with a concrete decision on alliance with AAP. However, as per Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the party was interested in forming an alliance only in Delhi while the AAP party leaders wanted it in Punjab and Haryana too.

EYES ON CHANDNI CHOWK

An interesting battle seems to in store in the high profile constituency of Chandani Chowk. The seat which has witnessed the dominance of Congress since its inception, will this time see a clash between two veterans from BJP and Congress. BJP has fielded sitting MP and Union minister, Harsh Vardhan against four-time Lok Sabha MP, JP Agarwal from Congress and AAP's backroom strategist and IT professional, Pankaj Gupta. Lack of infrastructure and stalled redevelopment projects are among the issues residents and business community grapple with in this Lok Sabha seat. Traders in the constituency said they were hit by the 2016 demonetisation and found it difficult to comprehend the GST. Many were also affected by the sealing drive. Security of women is also an issue in the constituency. Incumbent BJP MP Harsh Vardhan is pitted against Congress' old-timer J P Agarwal, who represented the seat in 1984, 1989 and 1996 and AAP's Pankaj Gupta who is making his electoral debut. Agarwal said he is fighting on all the issues be it sealing, GST and demonetisation. While Vardhan blamed the AAP government for not cooperating in several developmental projects, including the Shahjahanabad redevelopment project. If elected to power, AAP candidate Pankaj Gupta said he plans to convert parks in his constituency into "lungs" for the national capital.

15,43,056 – Total voters

2014 winner – Harshvardhan (BJP) 

Candidates

• JP Agarwal (Cong) 
• Pankaj Gupta (AAP) 
• Harshvardhan (BJP) 

BIDHURI FOR SOUTH?

With the AAP fielding Raghav Chadha against sitting BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri and the Congress pitching Olympic medalist boxer Vijender Singh, Bidhuri seems to be on top of the tally in this constituency. Chadha, a chartered accountant and the party's spokesperson is also the talk of the town. People are giving full marks to Chadha for his door to door approach and direct connect with the people. On the other hand, Bidhuri who despite not fulfilling the earlier poll promises could stand a chance to win owing to the people wanting to bring back the "honest Prime Minister Narendra Modi". Singh despite having a fan following owing to his sportsperson image is far from the reach of the common people. It can easily be said that the fight would be between the AAP and the BJP.

20,27,980 – Total voters

2014 winner – Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP)

Candidates

• Vijender Singh (Cong)
• Raghav Chadha (AAP)
• Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP)

NORTH EAST BIG FIGHT

Three-time former Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Sheila Dikshit is up against BJP's Delhi President Manoj Tiwari and AAP's Dilip Pandey for the seat which has the highest concentration of Muslim voters which is around 23% and mainly consists of the migrant population. Main issues of this constituency are caste equations and unauthorised colonies. Votes in this constituency could see a shift with coming of Dikshit and indirectly benefit the BJP contender Manoj Tiwari, who is a popular face in the area. In the name of Dikshit, the Congress would be looking to bring back their lost vote bank of Muslims, Dalits and low-income groups which had moved to the AAP during the assembly polls. Development of unauthorised colonies, water and bad roads have also been a major drawback for the area. There are nearly 270 unauthorised colonies and more than 46 slum clusters across 10 assembly constituencies falling in North-East Delhi. BJP's priority is to provide pucca houses to slum dwellers.

22,61,265 – Total voters

2014 winner – Manoj Tiwari (BJP)

Candidates

• Sheila Dikshit (Cong)
• Dilip Pandey (AAP)
• Manoj Tiwari (BJP)

EAST FAVOURS ATISHI

BJP gave a surprise to the residents of east Delhi by fielding former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir in their constituency up against Atishi who is known for her educational reforms carried out in the national capital. Meanwhile, Congress has also fielded Arvinder Singh Lovely, who is making a comeback in the party after his return from BJP and had served the capital for over a decade. Atishi is the strongest contender in this constituency followed by Gambhir and then Lovely. The constituency is the exact opposite of what one sees in Lutyens' Delhi where the VVIP's reside – slums, open drains, crowded roads, unauthorised colonies, water scarcity and parking space problems. Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and actress Swara Bhaskar who campaigned for Atishi and urged people to choose a leader who will send their children to Oxford or Cambridge University, and not Ayodhya or Kumbh. Atishi and Gambhir have been sparring over a number of issues. Atishi had alleged Gambhir for having two voter id cards and challenged Gambhir for an open debate which did not happen.

20,10,954 – Total voters

2014 winner – Maheish Girri (BJP)

Candidates

• Arvind Singh Lovely (Cong)
• Atishi (AAP)
• Gautam Gambhir (BJP)

NORTH-WEST DELHI

The North-West Delhi constituency, reserved for Scheduled Castes, is being fought by BJP's Sufi singer Hansraj Hans who has an 'outsider tag' and will be up against Congress Rajesh Lilothia and AAP's Gugan Singh, both former MLAs.

AAP is leaving no stone unturned in calling him an outsider and talking about Hans' conversion to Islam. After denying ticket to sitting MP Udit Raj, a Dalit leader, Raj later joined Congress and hit out at the saffron party. Raj's presence in the Congress camp, as well as Singh's past, connect in BJP as a former party MLA could dent into Hans' votes. However, he is unleashing a high-voltage campaign by bringing in celebrities like Daler Mahendi and carrying out road shows.

Hans promises to build hospitals, easing traffic congestion, tackling drinking water problems and bring other infrastructure to the area. Lilothia hopes that Congress' 15-year-rule in the capital would propel him to victory and banks on "non-performance" of BJP and AAP. While Singh believes AAP's performance, especially in education, power and water sectors, would help him sail through.

23,54,602 – Total voters

2014 winner – Udit Raj (BJP)

Candidates 

• Rajesh Lilothia (Cong)
• Guggan Singh (AAP)
• Hansraj Hans (BJP)

WEST HAPPY WITH MP

Son of Former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, sitting MP from the constituency is turning out to be a strong contender from this constituency leaving behind Congress candidate Mahabal Mishra and AAP's Balbir Singh Jakkar. The fight primarily seems to be between Congress and BJP. The West Delhi constituency primarily is a Jaat belt area with some parts occupied by the migrant population. Verma who is considered a non-performer might see votes coming his way due to the Modi undercurrent. On the other hand seasoned politician Mahabal Mishra also stands a chance as people have a connect with him, unlike Verma who they have barely seen in the last five years. Voters in the constituency primarily focus on the biradari (fraternity) when it comes to voting.

23,35,920 – Total voters

2014 winner – Parvesh Verma (BJP)

Candidates

• Mahabal Mishra (Cong)
• Balbir Singh Jakhar (AAP)
• Pravesh Verma (BJP)

SEALING-HIT NEW DELHI

New Delhi is a hub of traders and most of the traders still remember the pain of the sealing here, which has been going on since last year. Besides the traders, the people of unauthorised colonies are also affected as they are associated with some small businesses across the city. The constituency has the biggest burning topic that is of sealing as the constituency has high-profile markets like Khan Market, Defence Colony, South Extension, Connaught Place, Green Park, Hauz Khas and Lajpat Nagar. The constituency, formed in 1951, houses prestigious institutions like the Parliament, Supreme Court, Central government offices, official residences of the President, Prime Minister, all the Union Ministers, top civil, judicial, military officials and the Diplomatic Enclave. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are playing a blame game over the issue. BJP has put in sitting MP Meenakshi Lekhi against AAP's candidate Brijesh Goyal, a traders leader and two-time MP Ajay Maken from the seat from Congress.

15,95,018 – Total voters

2014 winner – Meenakshi Lekhi (BJP)

Candidates

• Ajay Maken (Cong)
• Brijesh Goyal (AAP)
• Meenakshi Lekhi (BJP)