Sunday will see the Maujpur ward in the East Delhi Municipal Corporation go to polls in a by-election where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be looking to add a cherry on top of the comfortable majority it won in the general elections last month.
While elections to the rest of the EDMC’s 63 wards were held on April 23, the election in Maujpur had been cancelled as the Samajwadi Party’s candidate, Naseema, passed away during the campaign. As a result, the Delhi State Election Commission ordered a by-election in Maujpur.
AAP holds road show
One of the 27 wards in the EDMC reserved for women, Maujpur is located in the Seelampur Assembly constituency and has a population of 59,055, as per the State Election Commission. While the BJP won 43 out of the 63 EDMC wards that went to polls on April 23, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 11 and the Congress was routed, winning only three.
On Friday, the last day for campaigning, AAP candidate Reshma (33) met residents in the ward and asked them about their expectations from her. In the morning, AAP workers organised a road show, where the party’s primary campaign promises were repeated.
A social worker by profession, Ms. Reshma said she was confident even though the municipal polls were swept by the BJP.
“The BSJP candidate here is a dummy candidate. She has no experience in dealing with the problems of the public. The voters here have, in fact, told us that they have had enough of the BJP’s narcissistic rule,” she said.
For the BJP, holding on to the north-east Delhi ward is a matter of pride. Not only is the outgoing councillor, Sanjay Jain, an old party hand, but the ward also happens to be located in Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari’s Lok Sabha constituency of north-east Delhi.
Keeping in mind the political significance, Mr. Tiwari has campaigned in the ward over the past week.
Matter of pride
“Mr. Jain is the outgoing Leader of the House in the EDMC. It will certainly be a matter of pride if the party manages to hold on to it. But, the party has already proved its credentials with its spectacular win in the civic polls and even a possible loss will not take anything away from the BJP,” said a leader.
For the Congress, which was brought down from 19 seats in 2012 to just three this time, the election in Maujpur wouldn’t make much difference. Despite that, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken campaigned in the ward on Friday, joining a padyatra for its candidate Rekha Sharma. The party leaders also went door-to-door to interact with voters. Later, Mr. Maken participated in the Congress’ ongoing signature campaign that seeks support for its demand for the resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over allegations of corruption.
