The election buzz reached its peak on Thursday with several political heavyweights of the Capital filing their nominations for the December 4 Assembly polls. With Friday declared a holiday for Muharram and Saturday being the last day for filing of nominations, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and BJP's chief ministerial hopeful Harsh Vardhan rather opted to play it safe by announcing their entry into the poll fray on Thursday. Dikshit's opponent from the New Delhi seat, BJP's Vijender Gupta and Delhi Health Minister AK Walia too filed their nominations. Apart from them, the second last day also witnessed 268 other candidates submitting their nomination papers
Dikshit, 75, submitted her nomination papers before the Returning officer Sanjiv Gupta at Jamnagar House amidst a large group of supporters. She was accompanied by her son and MP from East Delhi Sandeep Dikshit and daughter latika. "I am confident that Congress will retain power in Delhi," said Dikshit, who has been representing New Delhi constituency since 1998.
With hundreds of party workers shouting slogans in support, BJP's chief ministerial nominee Harsh Vardhan filed his nomination papers for Krishna Nagar constituency. Vardhan filed his nomination at Deputy Commissioner's office at Geeta Colony in East Delhi. He was accompanied by Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel, senior party leader VK Malhotra. On the occasion, Vardhan did not miss the opportunity to criticise the incumbent Congress party and said, "The people are fed-up with the ruling party and are eager to dethrone them. The Government has failed on several points including inflation, corruption and development."
Former Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta too filed his nomination at Jamnagar House to fight from New Delhi Assembly constituency. He was accompanied by his wife, Shobha Vijender, who is also a sitting Councillor from Rohini. BJP National Secretary Shyam Jaju was also present at the office. "After coming to power I will make New Delhi Assembly constituency free from jhuggis and beggars. Connaught Place will be provided the status of a world-class market. Our party will be committed to develop Delhi in a uniform way," said Gupta
Besides, senior Delhi Congress leader AK Walia also filed his nomination at the DC's office in Geeta Colony. Walia will be fighting against BJP's first-timer Abhay Verma for the laxmi Nagar Assembly constituency. A number of Dikshit's Cabinet ministers also filed their nominations on Thursday, which include Haroon Yusuf for Ballimaran seat, Kiran Walia for Malviya Nagar and Ramakant Goswami for Ranjender Nagar. Meanwhile, those from the Opposition who submitted their affidavits include Kulwant Rana for Rithala seat, Mahender Nagpal for Wazirpur, Rajesh Gehlot for Matiala, Karan Singh Tanwar for Delhi Cantonment and SP Ratawat for Karol Bagh. Aam Aadmi party's Shazia Ilmi Malik also submitted her papers for RK Puram seat.