Delhi elections: No clear favourites in Laxmi Nagar; BJP, AAP and Congress slug it out

New Delhi: It is truly a triangular contest in Laxmi Nagar constituency of East Delhi with the Congress once again fielding Dr Ashok Kumar Walia while the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate is former councilor BB Tyagi and Aam Aadmi Party has a new face in Nitin Tyagi.

With 85,000 voters, the constituency has a mixed population of Punjabis (20 per cent), people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (10-15 per cent), Muslims (12 per cent) and others. The seat is divided into four segments - Krishna Kunj, Laxmi Nagar, Pandav Nagar and Shakarpur.

The seat's four segments are also divided along party lines. While a tough fight will be witnessed between BJP and Congress in Krishna Kunj and Laxmi Nagar, the AAP has a stronghold in Pandav Nagar and Shakarpur. The BJP has also changed its candidate and denied ticket to Abhay Verma as he stood third in 2013 polls.

"A tough fight will be witnessed between BJP and Congress. The AAP is nowhere in the contest," said Naresh Swami, a businessman at Subhash Chowk.

Considered a stronghold of Congress, Walia won the seat from 1993 to 2008 because of his clean image and accessibility.

"The Congress party lost 2013 Delhi polls badly because it was over confident. The party is far away from reality and ground workers are not working properly," said a senior party member.

"The fight will be seen between BJP and Congress only. With the coming of Kiran Bedi, the BJP has become strong. Cleanliness, sewer and pension dominate the polls issues," said Rajat Gupta, a shop keeper.

The women voters are backing Kiran Bedi candidature for chief ministership as security is their prime concern.

"Given her image, our only hope is Kiran Bedi. Only she can do something about women security. She is a strict officer and will work on the issue," says Anchal, a college student.

Meanwhile, there are many who want an AAP government and the party convener Arvind Kejriwal as their chief minister.

"When the city was ruled by AAP for 49 days, the scenario was very different. There was less corruption, reduced water and electricity bills. I want to give it another chance," says Ayush Agarwal, a resident.

In 2013 polls, former AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binny defeated AK Walia by 8,000 votes but this time he is contesting on a BJP ticket from the adjacent Patparganj constituency.