The traditional contenders in Delhi Assembly polls are on their toes as 50 per cent of contestants in the upcoming civic polls are independent candidates. Most of them are rebels who were disappointed for not getting tickets from their parties.
“The number of independent candidates is 1,500, which is almost half of the total nominations of 3,048,” said an election commission official.
Apart from the independent candidates, the Delhi BJP and Congress will have to face another trouble as the local and state parties are also participating in the civic polls. According to the official data, a total of 17 parties have fielded 1,548 candidates. However, the number of candidates will come down after March 31, the last day for taking back the nominations. The verification of document submitted by the candidates is going on.
According to the Delhi state election commission, the BJP has a total of 612 candidates in the fray, including the covering candidates and the Congress has 548. The BSP has fielded 114 candidates, SP has fielded 83, NCP has 62, Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP has 32, JDU has 28, INLD has 15, Shivsena has 15, RLD’s 12, RJD’S 9, National Panther’s Party has 6, JDS has 5 and one candidate each of JMM, Muslim League and Kerala state committee.
Meanwhile, the Forward Bloc has fielded 10 candidates, including five women, on Wednesday.
The party has fielded six candidates in North Delhi Corporation and two each from South Delhi and East Delhi corporations.
The seats from which the party is contesting are Mundka, Nilothi, Pratap Vihar, Nitari, Mongolpuri (East), Paharganj, Sangam Vihar (West), Sangam Vihar, Mayur Vihar-I and Brahmpuri.