Delhi goes into campaign mode as key leaders file nomination papers

The campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections picked up momentum as filing of nominations ended on Wednesday.

Elections will be held on February 7 and counting of votes done on February 10.

While the BJP and the AAP have positioned themselves as the key contenders, the Congress is trying to regain its base by playing the underdog. All the three parties are apparently facing problems over ticket distribution.

The AAP believes that it has a chance to come to power with a simple majority, with BJP-RSS workers openly protesting against the top brass over ticket distribution. There is anger within the BJP over the decision to project former police officer Kiran Bedi as the CM candidate.

The BJP, on the other hand, believes the AAP has lost its charm. The party is projecting the inability of the Arvind Kejriwal government to continue in office.

The Congress is trying to make the most out of the organisational issues in both the rival parties, though its attacks are mostly targeted at the AAP. It is projecting AICC general secretary Ajay Maken as the face of the campaign.

Bedi and Maken held roadshows before filing nominations. Kejriwal, who could not file nominations on Tuesday, said he is getting “overwhelming response” from the public.

Bedi is contesting from Krishna Nagar while Kejriwal is trying to retain New Delhi. Maken has filed nomination from the Sadar Bazar constituency, which he has represented for four terms in the past.

Kejriwal said his party’s fight is not against any person or political party. “It’s against corruption and price rise. Last time the people of Delhi had given us a huge mandate. I hope they will give us the full mandate for running the government for five years,” he said.

Bedi said she will ensure a better policing system if elected to power.

“Once we are in power every government department will give us a white paper, enabling us to find out where we are and where we are beginning from — to find out the pending issues, newer challenges. The reports will be put on the websites of the departments. We will give Delhi the government it deserves,” she said.

Maken alleged that both Kejriwal and Bedi are using Anna Hazare to fulfil their political ambitions.

“Both of them used to wave flags standing beside Anna Hazare, they got into politics by climbing on his shoulder. The Ps and Ss about which Bedi has been talking about these days does not include corruption. Does corruption become a non-issue as soon as she got into BJP?” he said.

Maken further said he will ask power companies to state the profit they had earned by decreasing electricity theft and why the amount was not passed on to the consumer through reduced tariffs.

“The money which has been saved by reducing power theft will be used in betterment of water supplies,” he added.