It’s AAP vs BJP in Kasturba Nagar

Polling percentage of KN: 66.14 per cent

Jangpura: 64.14 per cent

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 7

The mood in Kasturba Nagar Assembly constituency indicates a two-way contest between AAP’s Madan Lal and BJP’s Ravinder Choudhary. Congress’ Neeraj Basoya is almost missing from people’s conversations.

On the other hand, Jangpura voters are divided among Congress’ three-time MLA Tarwinder Singh Marwah and AAP nominee Praveen Kumar while the saffron party’s choice MS Dheer has lost people’s confidence after his “lack-luster” show as Delhi Assembly Speaker last year.

But more than the individual candidates, it is the “personality-clash” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that seems to be overpowering people’s minds.

Dattas, who cast their vote at the nearby SDMC Primary School, said “Last time, a majority of people were with BJP. But people are tired of political gimmicks. The mood looks to be in favour of AAP this time. Everybody wants change. Kejriwal has accepted his mistake of resigning and people now want to give him another chance.”

However, Amar Colony’s SC and Ramesh Arora are opposed to electing the AAP chief. They said he lacked maturity and so his party was fit to be in the opposition. “Kejriwal is not capable of governing and indulges in theatrics. He is not experienced. He may be a watchdog and giving reigns of Delhi in his hands would not be a sensible choice,” they said. Only voters in Prakash Mohalla and Zamrudpur, who want free water and electricity, will vote for AAP, they added.

They argued that Modi’s leadership would have an impact as under him India had gained in the international arena.

While Shweta Mahajan of the same locality was of the view that BJP was at a back-foot, owing to the “attack-oriented” politics, the only negative factor in case of AAP was that it had left the government.

“Everyone is tweeting for AAP and the decisive vote is that of middle-class voters who are the real sufferers. Kejriwal may be given a chance. BJP is trying hard as it has realised the challenge in AAP. Moreover, with BJP at the Centre and AAP in Delhi could work for good. It is 50-50,” said Arti Charaya, a fashion lecturer of Lajpat Nagar IV.

In Jangpura, Mahendra Singh, a resident of Samman Bazar in Bhogal, felt Marwah had more chance though AAP also had a strong hold while BJP was not in the race. It was Marwah’s popularity and connect with voters here that may win him a significant amount of support even as Congress had lost steam in the area.

“Marwah has done work while BJP has done nothing in the last seven to eight months. Instead, its leaders have been going on foreign visits,” said Marwah supporter Ram Kishan (75).

However, 80-year-old Dr PC Jain was disenchanted with the Congress. His son SK Jain, a computer consultant, said “Largely, people in Bhogal are supporting AAP to see an end of corruption. Other political parties have only served their own interests.”

Residents of Masjid Lane, Shanchand and Kamla Devi, both retired railway officials, said “It is a tough fight between Congress and AAP while Dhir has proven to be ineffective as Speaker.”

Retired nurse Sheela John was in favour of Marwah while she blamed the BJP for the recent attacks on churches. She said Marwah would consolidate his support base he lost to Dheer, who had contested on AAP ticket during last Assembly polls, and ousted Congress stalwart Marwah.