Delhi Assembly Elections: 699 Candidates to Contest Across 70 Constituencies
The stage is set for the Delhi Assembly elections, with a total of 699 candidates vying for 70 seats on February 5, the Election Commission (EC) announced. The nomination process saw a significant turnout, with the deadline for submitting nominations ending on January 17. Scrutiny was conducted on January 18, and candidates had until January 20 to withdraw their nominations.
Among the key constituencies, New Delhi stands out as the most crowded, with 23 candidates in the fray. Arvind Kejriwal, the former Delhi Chief Minister, is contesting from this constituency. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Parvesh Verma, son of former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, while the Congress has named Sandeep Dikshit, son of former CM Sheila Dikshit.
On the other hand, Patel Nagar and Kasturba Nagar have the fewest candidates, with just five in each constituency. Following closely are Tilak Nagar, Karol Bagh, Gandhi Nagar, Greater Kailash, Mangol Puri, and Tri Nagar, each having six candidates, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI).
In the Greater Kailash constituency, key contenders include Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Saurabh Bhardwaj, BJP’s Shikha Rai, and Congress’ Garvit Singhvi. Meanwhile, in Kasturba Nagar, the prominent names include AAP’s Ramesh Pahalwan, BJP’s Neeraj Basoya, and Congress’ Abhishek Dutt.
As the election date draws near, Delhi’s political landscape is becoming increasingly dynamic. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), once positioned as an anti-corruption crusader, is now engaging in practices that mirror traditional political outfits. The contest in Delhi is being viewed as a crucial battleground, with national and regional parties gearing up to secure their dominance in the capital.
