Cong, BJP try to outdo each other

At Krishna Nagar nomination centre, as BJP workers gathered in flocks to cheer for the party’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi, supporters of Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party also tried to maintain an upbeat mood for candidates fielding their nominations on Wednesday.

A few Congress supporters were seen waiting at the Shastri Nagar centre in east Delhi from 10 am before candidate S P Sharma fighting from Gandhi Nagar constituency arrived at the centre at 11.30 am. However, even supporters were not convinced of the party winning in the upcoming elections.

“We know the party has little chance of winning. But the Congress workers are more approachable,” said Purnima Gupta, a resident of Shastri Park.

The Congress slogans got soon drowned once the BJP candidate Jitender Chaudhary fielded from Gandhi Nagar constituency reached the centre to file papers. With party workers sprinkling confetti and garlanding the candidate, around 400 BJP supporters at the site drew attention.

“Look at the huge crowd the BJP candidates has drawn. The Congress will not be able to match up to us,” said Punit.

Even though they lacked in numbers, the Congress used portable speakers to raise anti-Modi slogans. BJP members showed some restrain in raising anti-Congress slogans and stuck to the “Modi-lehar” theme.

Soon after Sharma arrived, Arvinder Singh Lovely reached the spot to show solidarity amidst rumours that the leader was upset after not being fielded as a candidate.

“It was surprising that Lovely was not given a ticket at the last moment. As Congress supporters, we wanted to see him as a candidate. He is the people’s leader,” said Nishar Pradhan.

Sharma’s candidature failed to strike a chord with the party supporters, most of whom said they wanted him to be an elected leader.

The Congress supporters, who did not number up to more than 80 as estimated by a party worker, had very few young supporters in the group. 

The BJP, on the other hand, had many youth members in the group. The group got bigger as Kiran Bedi reached the centre to file her nomination papers. 
The AAP supporters at the centre, who came to support candidate S K Bagga for Krishna Nagar constituency, took a dig at Bedi for joining Narendra Modi’s party.

“It is greed that took over her. Otherwise, why would she join the BJP when even one year back she said she does not believe in his ideology?” said Salim Rizvi.