The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections with key candidates Shweta Saini and Manjinder Singh Sirsa filing their nominations on Thursday.
The nominations were submitted in the presence of Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, signalling the BJP's commitment to wrest power from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital.
Shweta Saini will contest from the Tilak Nagar constituency, currently represented by AAP MLA Jarnail Singh. She will face stiff competition from Singh, a three-time winner from this seat, and Congress candidate PS Bawa.
Meanwhile, Manjinder Singh Sirsa has entered the fray from the Rajouri Garden constituency, where he will challenge AAP’s Dhanwati Chandela and Congress candidate Dharampal Chandela. Sirsa, a former winner in the 2017 bypolls, was defeated by Chandela in the 2020 elections.
The filing of nominations comes ahead of the January 17 deadline. The scrutiny of nominations is set for January 18, while January 20 marks the last date for candidates to withdraw their nominations.
With the elections scheduled for February 5 and the counting of votes on February 8, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its campaign efforts.
Addressing the media after the nominations, Manohar Lal Khattar launched a scathing attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He criticised the AAP government’s ten-year rule, accusing it of mismanagement and neglect.
Khattar claimed that Kejriwal’s administration had failed to address critical issues such as damaged roads, poor sewage systems, and inadequate drinking water facilities. Instead, he alleged, Kejriwal prioritised personal interests over the welfare of the city’s residents.
Khattar expressed confidence in the BJP’s prospects, stating that the people of Delhi are ready for a change in governance. He accused Kejriwal of deceiving citizens with false promises over the years, asserting that the BJP’s track record of development would resonate with voters.
Tilak Nagar and Rajouri Garden have long been strongholds of the AAP. Jarnail Singh has held the Tilak Nagar seat since 2013, consistently winning elections. Similarly, Dhanwati Chandela’s victory in 2020 marked the AAP’s dominance in Rajouri Garden.
However, the BJP is banking on its candidates’ experience and the public’s growing dissatisfaction with the AAP government to reclaim these constituencies.
The BJP’s campaign strategy focuses on highlighting the shortcomings of the AAP’s governance and presenting itself as a credible alternative. Leaders like Khattar are actively engaging with voters, emphasising the party’s development-oriented policies and vision for Delhi.
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