The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The Lok Sabha elections in Delhi are shaping up to be quite intriguing. Unlike the 2014 and 2019 elections, there is no clear prediction of victory for any party or candidate in the 2024 parliamentary elections. This uncertainty has kept Delhi voters largely silent, with many carefully tailoring their words based on their audience.
The electoral contest in Delhi is primarily between two alliances: the NDA, with the BJP contesting all seats, and the INDIA bloc, which has divided its seats between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. The AAP is contesting four of Delhi’s seven seats, while the Congress is contesting the remaining three.
The AAP candidates include Kuldeep Kumar (East Delhi), Sahiram Bidhuri (South Delhi), Mahabal Mishra (West Delhi), and Somnath Bharti (New Delhi). The Congress candidates are Kanhaiya Kumar (North East Delhi), Jai Prakash Agarwal (Chandni Chowk), and Udit Raj (North West Delhi).
On the other side, the BJP has replaced six out of its seven incumbents with new candidates. Harsh Malhotra is contesting from East Delhi, replacing Gautam Gambhir. Ramveer Singh Bidhuri is contesting the South Delhi seat, replacing Ramesh Bidhuri. Kamaljeet Shehrawat is contesting from West Delhi, replacing Parvesh Verma. Bansuri Swaraj has replaced Meenakshi Lekhi in New Delhi. Praveen Khandelwal is contesting from Chandni Chowk, replacing Dr. Harsh Vardhan. Yogendra Chandolia is the BJP candidate from North West Delhi, replacing Hans Raj Hans. The only candidate whose candidature has been retained is Manoj Tiwari from the North East Delhi seat.
Delhi’s seven parliamentary seats are urban and have been BJP strongholds for the past two decades. Voters in Delhi often support a single party due to the city’s unique nature, where residents might live in one part and work in another, influencing their voting behavior.
The electorate is divided along religious and economic lines. Muslims, who comprise 12 percent of the population, generally vote against the BJP. The largest demographic in the NCR consists of OBC communities (35 percent), followed by Dalit communities (17 percent). The INDIA bloc benefits from the Muslim community’s support against Islamophobia, while the NDA leverages the construction of the Ram Temple.
Economically, the affluent and middle classes tend to support the NDA, whereas the poor align with the INDIA bloc.
In Chandni Chowk, Congress candidate Jai Prakash Agarwal, a seasoned leader with strong influence in the Vaish community, is up against BJP’s Praveen Khandelwal, who lacks full support from prominent BJP figures. With 13 percent Muslim voters and 16 percent Dalit voters in the constituency, Agarwal could have the upper hand if the 17 percent Baniya voters split.
In North East Delhi, BJP’s Manoj Tiwari faces Congress’s dynamic young leader Kanhaiya Kumar. With 20 percent Muslim voters and 16 percent Dalit voters, Kanhaiya has an edge, though the Ram Temple’s influence is significant here.
In North West Delhi, Congress’s Udit Raj is up against BJP’s Yogendra Chandolia. Raj has the advantage of incumbency, while Chandolia’s age works in his favor. The constituency has 20 percent Dalit voters and 10 percent Muslim voters.
In East Delhi, AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar benefits from the 15 percent Dalit and 16 percent Muslim population. However, the Ram Temple’s influence makes BJP’s Harsh Malhotra a strong competitor.
In West Delhi, AAP’s Mahabal Mishra, with a significant Purvanchali population and established popularity, faces BJP’s Kamaljeet Sehrawat, who replaced Parvesh Verma. The constituency has 12 percent Dalit, 6 percent Muslim, and 7 percent Jat voters.
In South Delhi, BJP’s Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, a seasoned politician, faces AAP’s Sahiram Bidhuri in a close contest. The constituency has 16 percent Dalit, 7 percent Muslim, and 8 percent Gujjar voters.
In New Delhi, the entry of BSP candidate Anand has introduced uncertainty. AAP’s Somnath Bharti believes this will benefit him, while BJP’s Bansuri Swaraj thinks it will hurt AAP. The constituency has 18 percent Dalit voters and a high percentage of middle-class voters, making it highly competitive.
The Ram Temple construction’s influence contrasts with the issue of safeguarding the Constitution, making the elections more competitive. Disappointment with the incumbent government and BJP’s candidate changes could benefit the INDIA bloc. However, INDIA bloc voters face the challenge of recognizing the correct election symbols for Congress and AAP candidates.
The outcome on May 25 will reveal which alliance Delhi’s electorate supports.