The ambiguity over Mundka Assembly constituency was cleared with the BJP replacing sitting MlA Manoj Shokeen with North Delhi Mayor Azad Singh who had quit from the post protesting against denial of ticket. Shokeen has been asked to contest the elections from the neighbouring Nangloi Jat seat, which has been a Congress stronghold since over five decades. Shokeen is credited with BJP’s victory in the bypolls for Nangloi East ward earlier this year and he also enjoys popularity among Jat voters in the area.
The decision puts BJP in a win-win situation as Master Azad Singh, another Jat leader and brother of former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, also enjoys command over the region and being a native of Mundka village, the political equations too would favour his candidature. Azad Singh was earlier denied ticket by the BJP. However, after he threatened to quit from the post and the party, the BJP decided to compensate him. Sources said Singh’s dissociation with the BJP at this crucial time could inflict irreparable damage to the party in the ensuing polls. There were three contenders from the Mundka seat — sitting MlA Manoj Shokeen, Azad Singh and his nephew Pravesh Verma. While the party decided to repeat Shokeen; Verma was given the ticket from another Jat-dominated constituency of Mehrauli in South Delhi.
Shokeen had first won the Mundka seat in 2008. However, he supervised over the BJP’s preparations for the by-elections to the Nangloi East ward and led the party to victory. The Nangloi East seat was earlier held by Congress councillor Satyam Yadav, who died late last year. This was the first ever win of BJP in Nangloi, which is represented in the Assembly by Congress’ Master Bijender Singh for the last three successive terms.