There are 699 candidates in the fray for the February 5 elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly, a marginal increase from the number who contested the elections in 2020. Five years ago, 672 candidates had contested the Delhi Assembly elections.
According to Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer, the high-profile New Delhi seat has the highest number of 23 candidates, where AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal is facing a tough fight with BJP’s Pravesh Verma and Congress’s Sandeep Dixit.
After New Delhi, Janakpuri has 16 candidates, while Rohtas Nagar, Karawal Nagar and Laxmi Nagar have 15 candidates each.
In contrast, Patel Nagar and Kasturba Nagar have the least number of candidates, with five candidates each. In 2020, the Patel Nagar seat, which is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, had the least number of four candidates.
There are less than 10 candidates in 38 seats out of 70 assembly constituencies. Notable assembly constituencies like Tilak Nagar, Mangolpuri and Greater Kailash have six candidates each, while Chandni Chowk, Rajendra Nagar and Malviya Nagar have seven candidates each.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have fielded candidates on all 70 seats, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting on 68 seats and has reserved two seats for its allies Janata Dal (United) and Loktantrik Jan Shakti Party. Have left.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded candidates in 69 constituencies.
A total of 1,522 nomination documents were submitted by 981 candidates during the one-week nomination round that began on January 10. The final count was scheduled after scrutiny on 18 January, following which 20 January was the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
The elections will be held on February 5 and the results will be declared on February 8.