New Delhi: The posh locality of New Delhi will witness a close fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party on February 7 in the Delhi Assembly elections. This seat is almost a make or break one for both the parties as AAP's national convener and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is contesting against BJP's Nupur Sharma. The Congress, which won this seat in 1998, 2003 and 2008, has put up former MLA Kiran Walia.
Nupur, a former Delhi University Students Union president, has never contested Assembly elections but is confident of defeating Kejriwal, himself a giant killer in the 2013 elections when he trounced three-time Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit. Riding high on the Narendra Modi wave, Nupur is giving a tough fight to Kejriwal, who is now a seasoned politician.
Projecting former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as the BJP chief ministerial candidate has also given her some points to hit back at Kejriwal in a seat which is dominated by government employees and the middle class which has backed the APP in 2013 but turned against it after the 49-day rule by the party.
Even though some people admire the work done by Kejriwal during his 49-day rule, many are angry with him as he left the government and failed to fulfil his responsibilities.
Senior Congress leader Kiran Walia, who is close to Sheila Dikshit, will find it difficult to win the seat as people are still angry because of corruption under the previous Congress rule.
"The BJP will win from New Delhi seat. Arvind Kejriwal just sat on dharnas and ran away in 49 days. He should not be given chance," says a voter Ramesh Singh Sharma.
Expressing same opinion is Narendra Verma, a resident. "Arvind Kejriwal is a 'natakbaaz'. In politics, one needs to be flexible but he is like Hitler's brother. Delhi needs people like Kiran Bedi who are doers and can do something for the city," he says.
But a few also backed Kejriwal as his work is still appreciated.
"Kejriwal will win from here. The BJP has not fielded a strong candidate and the infighting in the party will cost it heavily. If he does not form the government, he will definitely sit in the opposition in the Assembly," says Dr Archana.
There are those for whom it does not matter which party comes to power.
"We can't trust anyone as no one does anything for us. During elections, all the leaders promise a lot of things but once they win elections, they forget us," says Guddi and Mamata, residents of a slum near Lodhi colony.
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