Kejriwal files nomination to battle for New Delhi seat against heavyweights

The Aam Aadmi Party convener signs up to battle Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and BJP's Vijender Gupta

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday filed his nomination for the Delhi polls from the New Delhi Assembly constituency, thus officially entering his name for what promises to be an epic three-way battle for the seat between himself, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and former state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Vijender Gupta.

Flanked by his mother Geeta, father Govind Ram and wife Sunita, Kejriwal filed his nomination at the district magistrate's office at Jamnagar House. "I am not contesting this election for myself but for the common man. I have filed my nomination on their behalf. I am filing on the last day (for filing nominations) because I was waiting for the chief minister to file hers, as I wanted to contest against her," he told reporters.

Kejriwal, in a pink shirt and grey trousers, left his office at around 10.45 am, along with hundreds of supporters and reached the office of the returning officer about an hour later. He went to the returning officer's chamber accompanied by party colleagues Pankaj Gupta, Sanjay Singh, Gopal Mohan and Rishikesh.

Asked about the declaration of assets and any criminal cases against him in his affidavit, he said that his wife and he had combined assets amounting to around Rs 2 crore, which included a plot of land in his name in Indirapuram in Ghaziabad and a flat in Gurgaon in his wife's name.

There were two cases filed against him by Dikshit and Pawan Khera, in which charge sheets have been filed, he added. Apart from the above, some cases were slapped against him in the course of Anna Hazare's movement for the Jan Lok Pal Bill and during the protests over the December 16 gangrape in the city. He said he had also been named in some cases related to the violation of the poll code by his party.

Till Friday, a total of 403 candidates had joined the electoral fray for the December 4 Delhi Assembly polls. Saturday was the last day for the filing of nominations. Kejriwal's parents, who were not permitted by police to accompany the AAP convener inside the office of the returning officer, expressed confidence about their son's prospects in the upcoming elections.

Kejriwal's mother said she was sure AAP would win 47 seats, though his father refused to speculate on the tally. "I am confident he will win and his party will form the government. He would not have entered politics had he and Anna Hazare not been duped by politicians," she said.

Terming Kejriwal a man of strong will, his father said the AAP leader was focused on serving the country.

When asked about his son not receiving support from Hazare and Kiran Bedi in his electoral endeavour, the senior Kejriwal said, "They said they wouldn't get into politics as it is mucky, but Arvind plunged into it saying he would pull up his sleeves and take up the 'broom' to clean it up."