New Delhi: This constituency has a rare charm and national visibility as it is the heart of the Indian polity, often fought and won by political heavy weights. By the rule of thumb, the swing is always towards the party that comes to rule Delhi.
In the ring are the two-time MP, Ajay Lalit Maken (Congress), known for his winning records, Supreme Court lawyer Meenakshi Lekhi (BJP), hoping for a Modi magic at work, Journalist Ashish Ketan (AAP), and Biswajit Chatterjee (Trinamool Congress). Chatterjee has no roots in Delhi and is unlikely to make any impact.   Â
If Investigative Journalism helps one win a Lok Sabha election, Ashish Ketan (AAP) has already won it. His recent scoop, ‘snoopgate’, where Gujarat police officials were recorded trailing a woman on the orders of a certain sahib – believed to be the Gujarat chief minister – has won national attention. Across social media, Khetan, a Marwari married to a Goan radio jockey and father to three daughters, is facing flak for using journalism to step into politics. In media circles, however, he commands respect.
If being a lawyer born into a family of legal luminaries helps one win a Lok Sabha election, Meenakshi Lekhi is already elected. A graduate from Hindu College, she enrolled herself with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1990, and started practicing at the Supreme Court of India, Delhi High Court. Her husband, Aman Lekhi, was designated as Senior Advocate in 2005. Among the notable cases he has handled are the Lajpat Nagar bomb blast, Redfort shootout, Vasantkunj multiple murder case, and the probate of will of Rajmata Vijay Raje Sindhiya.Â
But if winning elections before with record margins helps one win a Lok Sabha election, it is Ajay Maken who is winning this time, too, precisely the way he defeated BJP stalwart Jagmohan in 2004 and his rival candidates in 2009. Maken will have to work harder this time to make a hat-trick, considering how AAP has demolished those considered unbeatable.        Â
That sets the stage for the prestigious New Delhi constituency – represented by stalwarts of yesteryears and of today. Â
Sucheta Kripalani (1952-57 and 1957-60), K C Pant (1971-77 and 1984-89), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1977-80 and 1980-84), L K Advani (1989-91 and 1991-92), Rajesh Khanna (1992-96), Jag Mohan(96-98, 98-99 and 1999-2004), Ajay Lalit Maken (2004-09, and 2009-Â Â ).