Arvind Kejriwal set for straight fight against Sheila Dikshit

16 Nov 2013

Aam Admi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal today filed his nomination papers for the assembly elections from the New Delhi constituency, pitting himself against incumbent chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

The countdown for the end of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit's 15-year "misrule" has begun, Kejriwal said after filing nomination papers on Saturday, the last day for filing nominations.

The New Delhi constituency, earlier known as the Gole Market constituency, will witness a triangular contest between Congress Party's Sheila Dikshit, BJP's Vijender Gupta and Kejriwal.

Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal filed his nomination papers from the New Delhi Assembly constituency on Saturday, the last day for filing nominations.

The 4 December elections will bring curtains down on Congress misrule in Delhi, Kejriwal said. "This is an election for the people of Delhi and they will fight it," he added.

"It's a historic election. Fifteen years of corrupt rule will be thrown out of power. We are campaigning not to make me the CM, but to make every citizen feel like the CM of Delhi," the AAP chief said.

Kejriwal was accompanied by his parents and supporters to Jamnagar House where he filed his papers.

Many, however, advised Kejriwal to opt for some other constituency, but the AAP leader declined, saying it would be going back on AAP's stance if he filed nomination from elsewhere. There could, however, be a fierce battle as New Delhi constituency has always been considered Dikshit's domain.

The battle for the Delhi assembly, however, is going to be tough with three chief ministerial candidates Congress's Sheila Dikshit, BJP's Harshvardhan and Kejrwal filing their nomination papers.

A total of 89 candidates had filed their nominations till Wednesday after the process started on 9 November. Today is the last date for filing nominations.