JOIN USIt was a show of strength for BJP and Congress workers in South Delhi as their candidates filed their nomination one after the other.
BJP MLA from Tughlakabad Ramesh Bidhuri and incumbent Congress MP Ramesh Kumar filed their papers at the District Collector’s office in Saket. Hordes of supporters rallied behind them waving flags and chanting slogans.
Many BJP workers wore Bidhuri masks. BJP MLA Satya Prakash Rana and SAD MLA Harmeet Singh Kalka accompanied Bidhuri. Kumar was joined by his brother Sajjan Kumar, Congress MLA Haroon Yusuf and party state unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely.Bidhuri said that AAP has been exposed during its 49-day rule in Delhi.
According to the caste ratio in the South Delhi parliamentary constituency, Gujjars have a significant presence in a number of urban villages. But Bidhuri downplayed the caste factor and said the Modi wave will help the party conquer Lok Sabha elections.“AAP has been exposed,” he said, denying that it could be a triangular contest in the city.
He said that one of his key poll promises is to regularise unauthorised colonies and rehabilitate slum dwellers. Kumar, on the other hand, said he will be voted back to power for the work he has done in his constituency.
Bidhuri has assets worth over 14.5 crore in his and his spouse’s name. Kumar and his wife have assets worth over Rs 17 crore, which include three cars, and has no liabilities. Several other candidates also filed their nominations on the last day.
Mohan Kanuga, who participated in Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption protest, filed his papers before Bidhuri. He said he tried for an AAP ticket from South Delhi. Devinder Kumar Sehrawat is the AAP candidate from the constituency. He had earlier contested the Assembly elections from Bijwasan.
“The party was offering me a ticket from outside Delhi, so I decided to contest for the Panther’s Party,” Kanuga said, arguing that politicians are media creations. Kanuga, having served in the army, feels strongly for having self-reliance in defence procurement.
The Election Commission said that some 25 candidates have filed their nominations from South Delhi, including nine independents.