Pratik Dogra & Abhishek Samant
Ever since the Legislative Assembly was re-established in Delhi in 1993, the political scenario in the capital has been a two-horse race, with BJP and Congress vying for the top honours.
Traditionally a Congress stronghold, the BJP, under the leadership of Madan Lal Khurana came to power in the 1993 elections. However, instead of heralding a new era for the saffron party, his term was marred by corruption charges, price rises and consequent instability, which saw the baton of chief ministership move from Khurana to Sahib Singh Verma to Sushma Swaraj, within a span of 5 years.
Riding on the anti-incumbency wave, the 1998 elections saw a resurgent Congress, led by Sheila Dikshit, wrest Delhi back from the BJP. The Congress managed an encore, routing the BJP in the 2003 polls as well to win back-to-back terms for Dikshit.
In the run-up to the December elections, while Congress remains confident of completing a hat-trick in Delhi, a slew of impressive performances in other states as well as in the MCD elections over the past year, has given rise to wave of optimism in the BJP ranks as well.
A brief look at the chief-ministerial candidates from the two political heavyweights:
Sheila Dikshit
Sheila Dikshit, the Congress Party Chief Minister of Delhi since 1998, is running for a third successive term. Widely respected across party lines, she would be representing the Gole Market Constituency in the forthcoming elections against BJP’s Vijay Jolly. She is also the second woman Chief Minister of Delhi, after Sushma Swaraj.
She received her education at Convent of Jesus and Mary School, New Delhi and later in Miranda House. She holds a Master of Arts degree from the Delhi University.
Dikshit represented Kannauj Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh in 1984 and 1989 before shifting her base to Delhi.
She chaired the Implementation Committee for Commemoration of Forty Years of India`s Independence and Jawaharlal Nehru centenary. She also had the distinction of representing India at United Nations Commission on Status of Women for five years (1984-1989).
She has also donned the hat of a Minister in the Union Government from 1986-1989, serving as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and then as a Minister of State in the Prime Minister`s office.
She was the President of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, when her party swept polls in 1998.
She has been long-listed for the 2008 World Mayor award.
VK Malhotra
Bharatiya Janata Party’s Vijay Kumar Malhotra was born on December 3, 1931 in Lahore, Punjab (now in Pakistan). He has strong academic credentials and holds Doctorate in Hindi Literature.
Malhotra has been active in politics for decades. In his long career, he has served as the Chief Executive Councillor of Delhi`s Metropolitan Council (1967), President of the Janata Party, Delhi (1977) and BJP, Delhi (1980-84). He has also been a member of Rajya Sabha.
He is currently in his fourth term as an MP from the South Delhi constituency. Besides politics and social work, Malhotra is also involved with chess and archery clubs in Delhi.
He is senior vice president, Indian Olympic Association besides being the president, General Association of National Sports Federations; president, Archery Association of India.
Other Parties
Until now, the regional parties had cast negligible impact in Delhi. However, the emerging trend of regional parties like BSP, Akali Dal etc recording thumping victories over national parties in other states could caste a shadow in Delhi too. And the party that looks most likely to cause a dent in the fortunes of BJP and Congress is the Bahujan Samaj Party.
Buoyed by success in the neighbouring UP, BSP have set their eyes on the huge migrant work force in the capital, as their vote bank. Also, by cashing on the numerous dissidents in BJP and Congress, the BSP has ensured that it won’t be short on either local flavour or star-power. Even if BSP doesn’t drastically alter the dynamics this time around, it can’t be discounted of causing a dent in the BJP and Congress.
Besides, with the Lok Sabha elections looming large, and in context of Mayawati’s not so secret desire of being the next Prime Minister, the ‘symbolic importance’ of the Delhi elections isn’t lost on party’s local leaders.
As Brahm Singh Bidhuri, head of the party’s state unit, said, “The Delhi Assembly holds symbolic importance for us as the Lok Sabha elections are not too far away. We want her (Mayawati) as Prime Minister.”
|
