Rajendra Nagar Byelection slated for 23 rd June, a litmus test for AAP, after the assembly seat vacated by RS MP Raghav Chadha
The by election to Rajendra Nagar assembly constituency vacated by the newly elected Rajya Sabha member of parliament from Punjab Raghav Chadda, earlier the two term lawmaker of AAP in Delhi Assembly from here, is being held on 23 rd June, the date announced today. This assembly constituency comprising of Karol Bagh, Rajendra Nagar, Padav Nagar, Patel Nagar, Pusa Institute, Indra Puri J. J. Colony, Naraina Loha Mandi n Industrial area , Dasghara Todapur and several villages was represented by now Rajya Sabha MP, Raghav Chadha twice since 2015. Raghav Chadda , the former MLA from here was the chief observer n Incharge of Punjab and was elected MP of the upper house after the party won Punjab elections securing a historic majority for the first time bringing 92 lawmakers into its fold out of total 117, defeating Congress badly. While the AAP lawmaker twice he was also the vice chairman of Delhi Jal Board. The by election of Rajendra Nagar assembly constituency is in a way a litmus test for Aam Admi Party as the seat belongs to it since 2013. The saffron party was bringing it’s candidate from here for the last 27 years after it lost to Aam Admi Party in 2013. Since then the clout of Arvind Kejriwal exists here as in entire Delhi. Rajendra Nagar constituency is majorly comprised 66.5% of Punjabi, Sikh and Purvanchal voters with Punjabi dominating it. However, the votes of JJ clusters n industrial areas of this constituency constitute of Purvanchal voters. Since 1993 to 2020 , seven elections took place in Rajendra Nagar constituency with popular veteran leader of BJP Puran Chandi Yogi defeating the former MLA n Delhi Youth Congress chief Brahm Yadav. Brahm Yadav was again defeated by BJ’s Puran Chandra Tyagi in 1998 and Ramakant Goswami, journalist winning from here on Congress ticket in 2008. In 2013 RP Singh a Sikh BJP candidate defeated AAP candidate Garg from here. However, after two years Virendra Garg of AAP defeated RP Singh from here and since 2015 Raghav Chadha was representing it till he vacated this seat after he became the Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab.
This time AAP candidate Raghav Chadha will have a tough time winning from Rajendra Nagar. Now voters have become much wiser, they evaluate past performance of the candidate and its head in the govt.