It’s a do-or-die battle for the Congress this time. The party is focusing on regaining its turf that was lost to AAP in the last Assembly polls, as the political future of most of the former MlAs and party stalwarts is at stake. The party leadership has, reportedly, made it clear that it would be their last Assembly polls if they lose.
The list includes former State Ministers Dr Ashok Kumar Walia, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Prof Kiran Walia, former Delhi Assembly speakers Dr Yoganand Shastri, Subhash Chopra, Choudhury Prem Singh, Brahmpal, Jile Singh Chauhan, Bheesham Sharma, Master Bijender Singh and Malaram Gangwal, who are fighting this election battle for their political survival due to age factor which is against them and dimension of politics, which seems to be not in their favour after emergence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi. If they failed to hold their citadel on which they were ruling the Capital, the party will have to rethink their replacement in the changed scenario. In other words, the caste politics that they represented does not hold water in the present political scenario after the emergence of AAP.
Take the case of former Delhi Minister Dr Narendra Nath, contesting from Shahdara Assembly seat. He is over 70 years old. He lost to Jitender Singh Shunty by a margin of over 15,000 votes because AAP dented his votebank. Similarly stakes are high at laxmi Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Mangolpuri seats where Dr Ashok Kumar Walia, Choudhury Prem Singh, Dr Yoganand Shastri and Raj Kumar Chauhan are contesting. This election could be the last election for Choudhury Prem Singh due to his age factor. His age is over 78. Dr Shastri is also in his mid-60s has been asking for Malviya Nagar seat for the past five years. It’s a do-or-die situation for him as the party has conceded to his demand. Dr Shastri was in third position in 2013 from Mehrauli seat. Prof Kiran Walia, whom he has replaced, shifted to New Delhi seat. She was not interested to fight against Arvind Kejriwal but the party told her to contest from there. Prof Walia’s age is over 67. Similarly, Ashok Walia who had lost the last election by a margin of over 8,000 votes is in the electoral fray this time against BJP’s candidate BB Tyagi from laxmi Nagar.
Dr Walia will also fight for his political survival in the election this time. Insiders say he was not keen to contest but finally made up his mind to enter the political fray. “Choudhury Prem Singh, Raj Kumar Chauhan, Malaram Gangwal and Brahmpal are known Dalit/OBC faces of the party and if they fail to retain their seats, their days have gone,” said a Congress leader on condition of anonymity. Similarly, Jile Singh Chauhan, who is contesting from Burari seat, had been denied a ticket in 2008 and 2013.
Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken hopes that party’s former MlAs who are in the electoral battle will perform well because they are battling for their political survival.