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It’s a rare fight between the sons of two former chief ministers and a former CM himself—all of whom have to prove a point not only to their respective political parties they represent but to themselves
This time, New Delhi is not just a usual poll fight. File images/X
Come next week, after January 6, the Election Commission is likely to announce the Delhi assembly poll dates. Just ahead of it, on Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its first list of 29 names, making Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma and Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal’s fight from the VIP constituency of New Delhi official.
But this won’t be a two-way fight. Delhi’s most watched constituency will have a triangular tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP, and the Congress. The grand old party has fielded Sandeep Dikshit, son of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, whom Kejriwal defeated from the same constituency.
It’s a rare fight between the sons of two former chief ministers and a former CM himself—all of whom have to prove a point not only to their respective political parties they represent but to themselves.
When Madan Lal Khurana was embroiled in a corruption charge, Sahib Singh became Delhi’s chief minister and remained so for two and a half years. He had an active Sangh background, was national vice president of the BJP, and a big Jat leader. However, Parvesh Verma, though he served as a Delhi MP, couldn’t fit into the shoes of his father. This will be his chance to prove himself.
Meanwhile, Sheila Dikshit was battered by various corruption allegations, including of the CWG scam, raised by Arvind Kejriwal, then just an RTI activist. Kejriwal captured the imagination of the nation when Anna Hazare went on a fast for his cause. Later, when India Against Corruption decided to transform into a political outfit—AAP—and fight elections, Kejriwal decided to take on Sheila Dikshit from this very seat—New Delhi. Kejriwal defeated the late Congress leader by 20,000 votes. Now, observers say, it’s payback time for her son.
Recently, Sandeep Dikshit spoke about how his mother was wrongly defamed for using government facilities while she was the chief minister, referring to the AAP leader’s corruption allegations, even when Kejriwal allegedly spent crores on his government mansion—something even Prime Minister Narendra Modi raked up on Friday while mentioning “sheesh mahal”.
For Arvind Kejriwal, the embattled former chief minister who had to quit on corruption charges after going to jail, it is a fight to regain lost glory—the CM’s post and authority over the AAP cadres. He was arrested by both the Enforcement Directorate for money laundering and the Central Bureau of Investigation in a corruption case related to the alleged liquor policy scam. This dented his self-proclaimed image of “kattar imandar”, which the Prime Minister mocked by using the term “kattar beimaan” on Friday. The reported grand villa he invested in has also dented his public image among his core voters—the economically marginalised, auto drivers, and slum dwellers.
“I could have also made Sheesh Mahal…but for me, the dream is that my countrymen should get pucca houses,” said PM Modi on Friday as he distributed 1,645 flats to the poor in Delhi and launched a veiled but blistering attack on Kejriwal.
Now, not winning the New Delhi seat is not an option for Kejriwal. Even if AAP wins Delhi, observers say he will lose his grip on the organisation and government in case of a defeat.
This time, New Delhi is not just a usual poll fight. It’s the mother of all electoral battles.
