Bjp Dominates Delhi Seats

The seven constituencies in Delhi have always witnessed a neck and neck contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. The contest was loaded in the BJPs favour by the last elections, when the party won five of the seven seats. This time the party appears set to repeat the performance, if not improve upon it.

In 1996, Congress veterans Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar were defeated by lightweights Vijay Goel and KL Sharma respectively while actor Rajesh Khanna too lost depite support from the dominant Punjabi community.

National issues have always dominated the election in the national Capital. This time the BJP has been projecting Atal Behari Vajpayee as the next prime minister, a campaign that appears to be succeeding. After Sonia Gandhis entry into active politics, the situation has brightened for some Congress candidates, but they are more confident attacking the BJP on local issues than claiming a positive vote for the Congress.

 

The Congress replaced its old horses like Tytler and Sajjan Kumar after Sonia Gandhi apologised for Operation Bluestar (the two leaders were allegedly involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots). While former Union Minister Shiela Dixit is contesting from East Delhi, MM Agarwal is contesting from Delhi Sadar. Senior Congress leader HKL Bhagat dominated East Delhi, until he his loss to the BJP in 1991. Dixit is finding it find it tough since BJP candidate Lal Bihari Tiwari has a strong base, and had won a landslide victory in the byelection to the seat.

The Congress has traditionally held sway in Chandni Chowk due to large number of Muslim voters in the constituency.

The Janata Dal has tried to emerge as an alternative, but may end up cutting into Congress votes. This time, Shoaib Iqbal is contesting on a Janata Dal ticket.

The reserved seat of Karol Bagh will witness a keen contest between sitting Congress MP Meira Kumar and BJPs S P Ratawal. Kumar had won a by a big margin in 1996, but this time faces tough opposition from Ratawal, a local candidate.

Former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana, who had revolved against the party leadership and later backtracked, has been accommodated in Sadar inplace of Vijay Goel who has been moved to Chandni Chowk. Goel was a sure winner in Sadar, but hopes to repeat the performance in Chandni Chowk. Khuranas statute may see him prevail over MM Agarwal (Congress).

In New Delhi and South Delhi, BJP candidates Jagmohan and Sushma Swaraj appear confident of victory. If Dhawan has the organisational skill, resources and his Punjabi background, Jagmohan has the backing of government employees. Ajay Maken has worked his way to emerge as a strong youth leader but Swaraj is appears too tall a leader for Maken to defeat.

KL Sharma created history when he defeated Congress stalwart Sajjan Kumar by a big margin in Outer Delhi in 1996. The credit actually went to Delhi chief minsiter Sahib Singh Verma who galvanised his Jat supporters behind Sharma. Since then, the Sharma-Singh duo has worked together. Sharmas rival, DC Sharma (Congress), is contesting Lok Sabha elections for the first time.