Unable to file nomination on Monday, Atishi to submit poll papers on Jan 14

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi could not file her nomination from the Kalkaji Assembly constituency on Monday, an AAP leader said.

 

Accompanied by senior party leader Manish Sisodia, the chief minister held a roadshow after paying obeisance at a gurudwara in Giri Nagar and then proceeded towards the office of the district election officer to file her nomination.

 

However, as the roadshow got her delayed, she went to the Election Commission office to join AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, for a meeting with officials at 3 pm without filing the nomination papers.

 

Nominations for the assembly elections can be filed every day until 3 pm. Atishi is now scheduled to file her papers on Tuesday.  Before commencing her rally, Atishi, accompanied by AAP leader Manish Sisodia, visited Gurudwara Shri Guru Gobind Sahib in Giri Nagar. Earlier in the day, she offered prayers at the Kalkaji Temple, dedicated to Maa Kali, seeking blessings for her campaign.

"Before filing my nomination today, I came to seek the blessings of Maa Kali at the Kalkaji Temple. I believe Maa Kalka's blessings will always remain with me, the Aam Aadmi Party, and the people of the Kalkaji constituency," she told reporters.

Reflecting on her work in the area, Atishi said she has , "I have worked tirelessly in my constituency for the last five years. The people of Kalkaji are my family, they see me as their daughter and their sister. I am not just a representative, I am a part of their lives."  Taking a jibe at the BJP, she accused the party of being anti-poor. She said the BJP is a 'jhuggi virodhi' and 'gareeb virodhi' party and added that the AAP is committed to uplifting the marginalised communities.

Atishi is set to face a stiff challenge in the constituency from BJP's Ramesh Singh Bidhuri, a seasoned politician and her main opponent in the constituency.

Bidhuri, a former MP from South Delhi and a three-time MLA from Tughlakabad, is known for his strong political record, winning elections in 2003, 2008, and 2013.

The Congress has also entered the fray with Alka Lamba, National President of Mahila Congress.

Lamba, who was with the Congress from 1994 to 2014 before briefly joining the Aam Aadmi Party, has now returned to her former party, vying a comeback in this high-stakes election.

The Delhi assembly election is scheduled to be held on February 5, with the results to be declared on February 8.