New Delhi: The bypoll to the Bawana constituency in the Delhi Legislative Assembly is witnessing a triangular fight among the BJP, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party. While the BJP, buoyed by its victories in the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and the sweep in the elections to the Municipal corporations of Delhi, is confident of increasing its tally in the House to five, the ruling AAP in Delhi is looking to retain the seat won by it in the 2015 Assembly elections.
On the other hand, the Congress will be hoping to make its debut in the State assembly with a win in the by- elections, scheduled to be held on August 23. All the three parties are leaving no stone unturned to win the by-elections, necessitated by the resignation of AAP MLA Ved Prakash. While the BJP has fielded Mr Prakash from the seat, AAP has fielded Ram Chandra , a veteran party worker and social activist. The Congress has fielded veteran party leader Surender Kumar, a three-time MLA from Bawana. All three parties have expressed confidence over their win in the by-elections.
The ruling AAP in Delhi feels people of the constituency would go for its candidate Mr Ramchandra due to the clean administration provided by the AAP Government in Delhi and the work done by him in the area. Delhi Chief Minister and party's national chief Arvind Kejriwal and other national leaders like Sanjay Singh , Manish Sisodia and Saurabh Bhardwaj are among the AAP leaders who have been actively campaigning for the party candidate. They have been addressing various rallies in the constituency, urging people to restore their faith on the party and cast their vote for Mr Ramchandra in the interest of the development of the constituency.
While the BJP and the Congress have been engaging in mudslinging in the course of the campaigning, the AAP has been focusing largely on highlighting the developmental issues concerning the people. In course of their rallies, Mr Kejriwal and other leaders of the AAP have been highlighting the works done by the AAP Government in education, health and other sectors. However, rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra has launched 'AK (Arvind Kejriwal) teri kursi gol campaign' (Arvind Kejriwal your chair will be lost campaign) in the constiuency. Mr Mishra has even filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer, alleging violation of the model code of conduct and election laws by its candidate Mr Ramchandra and the party and called for cancellation of his candidature. However, notwithstanding the negative campaign by Mr Mishra, the AAP leaders are confident of winning the seat. The bypoll will be a litmus test for the AAP after its poor show in the Punjab and Goa Assembly elections and the MCD polls. A win for the party, which had also tasted defeat in the Rajouri Garden Assembly bypoll, in Bawana is likely to boost the morale of the candidates after its debacle in Punjab and Goa and the MCD polls.
The BJP has fielded 'turncoat' Mr Prakash, who had left the AAP and resigned as MLA from Bawana constituency after having joined the saffron party during the MCD poll. To bolster the BJP's campaign, Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari, along with party MPs and Union Ministers and other party leaders, have been addressing allies organised by the party in various parts of the constituency and urged people that to weed out alleged corruption in Delhi, they should vote for Ved Prakash. In course of its campaign , the party has been playing the 'development card' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has been constantly accusing the AAP Government of having not done anything for the Delhiites except indulging in infighting and tussle with the LG office on several issues.
They have asked people to teach a lesson to Mr Kejriwal. Mr Prakash's victory will be a short in the arm for the BJP as it strength in the Assembly will increase to five. At the same time, the win will continue their winning record since the victory in the MCD poll. The Congress party, which has fielded three times former MLA Kumar, is eyeing to open its account in Delhi Assembly by winning the seat. Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken has been doing various rallies, urging people to vote for Mr Kumar because a win for the party would boost the morale of the party and help to strengthen its base for 2020 Assembly election. Party leaders feel confident of a win , given the popularity of Mr Kumar. The counting of votes will be held on August 28. (UNI)