The process for bypoll to the Rajouri Garden Assembly seat here has gained momentum with BJP-SAD and Congress candidates filing their papers, alongside 12 others, on the last date for nomination today.
The 14 candidates have filed 21 nominations for the bypoll for the seat, which fell vacant after the then AAP MLA Jarnail Singh quit the post to contest the Lambi seat in Punjab against SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal.
The BJP-SAD combine has fielded Manjinder Singh Sirsa (SAD). He had contested the 2013 and 2015 Assembly polls on the SAD ticket.
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The Congress has fielded Khyala councillor Meenakshi Chandela while the AAP has come up with a new face - Harjeet Singh - for the bypoll.
For the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the bypoll is a critical test of its popularity while for the Congress, which was reduced to zero seat in the last polls here, the outcome is significant for revival.
The poll will be held on April 9, days before the national capital votes to choose councillors for the three corporations on April 22.
The seat was won by Sirsa in 2013.
While in 2015 Assembly polls, Jarnail got 54,916 votes, defeating Sirsa by 10,036 votes.
In the recently held Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) election, Sirsa had defeated Paramjit Singh Sarna of Congress-backed SAD (Delhi) group from Punjabi Bagh ward.
Around 50 per cent of the Rajouri Garden residents are Sikhs and Punjabis. The constituency is a mix of resettlement colony in Raghubir Nagar, unauthorised colonies, the middle class Tagore Garden and upscale Rajouri Garden.
Chandela is a two-time councillor of Khyala. Her husband Meghraj is also representing Vishnu Garden for the second time. These wards come under the Rajouri Garden Assembly constituency.
If Meenakashi Chandela wins the poll, she will be the first Congress legislator in the current assembly. The party was decimated in the 2015 elections.
While AAP's Harjeet Singh was born and brought up in Delhi, he did his graduation from the Delhi University and went on to form a successful transport business.
Sirsa, accompanied by Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari and MP Parvesh Verma, filed his nomination papers at Returning Officer's Office in Rampura. AAP's Harjeet Singh and Congress's Chandela filed their nomination papers.
Lok Shahi Party (Secular), Nationalist Congress Party and Purvanchal Mahapanchayat have also fielded their candidates while two Independents would also contest the bypoll.
The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be taken up by the Returning Officer tomorrow.
The result that will be announced on April 13, coming just before the civic body polls, will be showcased by the winning party as having a varied support base and, hence, as a reflection of the mindset of the voters.
A senior Congress leader said the party was planning to arrange a public rally by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh before the bypoll to attract the Sikh voters.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejirwal may also address a rally in the constituency.
The BJP has planned to rope in senior leaders to address rallies in the area.
