No more a cakewalk for Sibal

New Delhi: Kapil Sibal has been the darling of the Chandni Chowk constituency, having won three time in a row. But this time, it is not going to be a cakewalk for him, with AAP’s Ashutosh, who belongs to the bania community in a bania dominated constituency, and a political heavy weight, BJP’s Harsh Vardhan, as rival candidates, likely to chip away the comfortable majority Sibal once enjoyed.

“Kapil Sibal only remembers Chandni Chowk in election season. After winning the elections, BJP will ensure scientific development of the area without disturbing its historical character,” said Vardhan. Hitting back Sibal said, “I can just say that there is no Modi wave in Chandni Chowk. The people of Chandni Chowk believe in Congress. The Opposition party is out of Chandni Chowk.”

A dense commercial hub with sizeable Muslim population, Chandni Chowk is home to a large traders’ community (banias) and to Punjabis. The Bania community accounts for about 16-17 per cent of the population, while the Punjabis make up 13-14 per cent. Together, they represent an influential vote-bank. The Brahmins represent about 12 per cent of the electorate.

WIth Aam Admi Party’s emergence as the second largest party in state elections, it could well end up being the beneficiary of the crucial Muslim vote.

Over the past, the constituency’s electoral map has grown more complex with reduction in the Muslim population (from over 30 per cent to 15 per cent) and an expansion of the Dalit and the OBC population. The constituency has come to have a sizeable population Scheduled Castes (23-25 per cent) and OBCs (18 per cent).

Aam Admi Party, despite the endorsements it is getting from Muslim leaders, is not taking chances. The party’s candidate Ashutosh has already started door-to-door campaigns in the busy streets of the City, where the Muslims are concentrated. The party is focussing on Muslim-dominated assembly seats where they performed poorly in the assembly elections.

“This time the voting patterns in Ballimaran, Jama Masjid and Matia Mahal will surprise many,” says Ashutosh. While BSP, which had emerged as third political force in the 2008 election, drew blank this time, its candidate Narender Pandey says his party is largely banking on the support of the of the migrant and slum voters that are spread across the constituency.