Voting in 7 high-voltage Lok Sabha seats in Delhi tomorrow

The campaign for the election saw main contenders BJP, Congress and fledgling AAP engaging in a fierce race to woo the 1.27 crore voters. (PTI)

Voting will be held tomorrow for seven Lok Sabha seats in the country’s capital, seen as test of Aam Aadmi Party’s perceived erosion of support base, BJP’s claim of ‘Modi wave’ and assertion by Congress that it was regaining lost ground after drubbing in last assembly polls.

The high-voltage contest also assumes greater significance as it may set the stage for the possible assembly polls in the city in the next few months.

The campaign for the election saw main contenders BJP, Congress and fledgling AAP engaging in a fierce race to woo the 1.27 crore voters. Though Delhi has only seven Lok Sabha seats, the election outcome in the heart of the country carry a lot of significance due to political symbolism.

Though a total of 150 candidates are in the fray, including 58 Independents, the contest in all constituencies is likely to be three-way among the BJP, AAP and Congress.

For AAP, the election assumes greater significance as itwill reflect people’s support to it after the newbie created history in the December 4 assembly polls wresting 28 of the 70 seats and forming the government.

Kejriwal had faced severe criticism for quiting from the government after remaining in power for 49 days. Both Congress and BJP had mounted a shrill attack on Kejriwal accusing him of running away from responsibilities.

BJP’s campaign was centred around Narendra Modi and the election will determine whether the ‘Modi wave’ had any impact or not. If the party performs well, then it may press for early assembly polls. The BJP had won 31 seats in the assembly polls but refused to form the government.

“Your vote for our seven candidates in Delhi is a vote for me. Vote for them and help me build a strong and prosperous India,” Modi appealed to the people through advertisements in the dailies today.

Almost all top party leaders including Modi, L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley campaigned in the city. BJP drew a blank in the 2009 polls, while Congress had won all the seven seats.

After its massive defeat in the assembly polls in December last year, Congress through its campaign tried hard to win back support of the people through rallies and house-to-house contact programme.

The party was routed in the assembly polls as it could win only eight seats. Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice
President Rahul Gandhi had addressed separate rallies.