Only 4 Sikh candidates emerge victorious, all of AAP

Syed Ali Ahmed

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 10

Though a total of 13 Sikh candidates contested Delhi Assembly elections for different parties – AAP, BJP and the Congress – only four of them, all of the Aam Admi Party, emerged victorious. The rest nine Sikh candidates, including four of the Shiromani Akali Dal, had to bite the dust.

Of the four AAP Sikh candidates, Jarnail Singh from Rajouri Garden defeated SAD rival and sitting MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa by a margin of 10, 036 votes. Jarnail Singh, a journalist turned politician secured 54,916 votes while Sirsa got 44,880 votes.

AAP MLA Jagdeep Singh defeated SAD candidate Avtar Singh Hit by 26, 496 votes in Hari Nagar Assembly constituency. Jagdeep secured impressive 65,814 votes, while Hit got 39, 318 votes.

In Tilak Nagar constituency, AAP’s Jarnail Singh, a sitting MLA, won the seat by 19, 890 votes defeating his nearest rival BJP candidate Rajiv Babbar. Jarnail Singh secured 57,180 votes, while Babbar secured 37, 290 votes.

In Kalkaji Assembly constituency, AAP’s candidate Avtar Singh Kalka defeated SAD leader Harmeet Singh Kalka, who contested the election on BJP symbol, by 19, 769 votes. While Avtar Singh secured 55,104 votes, Harmeet polled 35,335 votes.

According to political analysts, announcement of support by Dera Sacha Sauda to the BJP was a contributing factor in Akalis’ defeat in Delhi.

However, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Manjit Singh (GK) said shifting of Congress votes to the AAP was the key reason for the defeat of SAD candidates who contested election on four seats – Rajouri Garden, Hari Nagar, Kalkaji and Shadra. Only in Rajouri Garden, it contested election on party symbol of ‘Takri’.

He said vote share of SAD had increased in these elections. In 2013 in Rajouri Garden, SAD had secured 41, 721 votes while this time the party secured 44,880 votes.

The winners and losers

• Jarnail Singh (AAP) from Rajouri Garden defeated SAD rival Manjinder Singh Sirsa
• Jagdeep Singh (AAP) defeated SAD candidate Avtar Singh Hit in Hari Nagar Assembly constituency
• Jarnail Singh (AAP) defeated BJP candidate Rajiv Babbar in Tilak Nagar constituency
• Avtar Singh Kalka (AAP) defeated SAD leader Harmeet Singh Kalka in Kalkaji Assembly constituency
• The BJP gave ticket to two Sikh candidates. Both were defeated
• The Congress gave ticket to three senior Sikh leaders. All had to bite the dust