Kejriwal vs Sandeep Dikshit: AAP’s Final Candidate List Ignites High-Stakes Battle for Delhi’s Political Throne!

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has finalized its candidate list for the Delhi Assembly elections, releasing the fourth and final roster of 38 names. Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convener, will contest from the New Delhi constituency, while Atishi, the current Chief Minister, is set to run again from Kalkaji. Saurabh Bharadwaj will represent AAP in Greater Kailash. A significant change in the list includes replacing Kasturba Nagar's sitting MLA, Madan Lal, with Ramesh Pehlwan. Both Pehlwan and his wife, councilor Kusum Lata, recently joined AAP after leaving the BJP. Other notable candidates include Gopal Rai in Babarpur, Amanatullah Khan in Okhla, and Satyendra Kumar Jain in Shakur Basti.

The New Delhi constituency will witness a high-stakes contest as Congress has fielded Sandeep Dikshit, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, against Kejriwal. This election marks a revival of the historic rivalry that saw Sheila Dikshit defeated by Kejriwal in 2013 and 2015. For Sandeep, it is not just a political challenge but an opportunity to reclaim his family’s legacy. AAP has made bold decisions by denying tickets to 20 sitting MLAs. Interestingly, in three cases, the party has replaced these MLAs with their family members. For instance, Vikas Bagga, son of SK Bagga, will run from Krishna Nagar; Puran Deep Sahni, son of Prahlad Sahni, from Chandni Chowk; and Pooja Balyan, wife of Naresh Balyan, from Uttam Nagar. Arvind Kejriwal, after unveiling the final list, took to X to express confidence in his team. He stated that AAP is fully prepared for the elections, emphasizing the party’s developmental vision and achievements over the past decade. Kejriwal criticized the BJP, alleging they lack a chief ministerial candidate, a team, or a plan for Delhi. He claimed the BJP’s sole agenda is to “remove Kejriwal” without offering tangible solutions or accomplishments to Delhi voters.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia echoed Kejriwal’s sentiment in his message on X, praising AAP's governance in sectors like education, healthcare, water, and electricity. Sisodia asserted that Kejriwal represents trust and hope for the people of Delhi, while accusing the BJP of lacking focus and direction. The elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly are slated for January 2025. AAP has declared it will contest independently, as it did in the Lok Sabha elections. The party is counting on its governance track record and grassroots appeal to secure another term, particularly in constituencies as significant as New Delhi.