Five fifth graders in election fray

While academic brilliance was never an issue in elections in India, the polls on May 7 in Delhi will witness battle among a total of 160 candidates, of which 31 have never completed matriculation, five are just fifth graders and 18 lawyers. HT Correspondent reports.

From fifth graders to lawyers, the race to Parliament from Delhi has contenders distinguished by their qualifications or lack of them.

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While academic brilliance was never an issue in elections in India, the polls on May 7 in Delhi will witness battle among a total of 160 candidates, of which 31 have never completed matriculation, five are just fifth graders and 18 lawyers.

Congress candidate Kapil Sibal, who is seeking re-election from Chandni Chowk seat, holds a law degree while his political rival and BJP nominee Vijender Gupta is a post-graduate in commerce.

Congress MP Krishna Tirath and former Delhi Mayor Meera Kanwaria (BJP)have done BEd. The BSP candidate from the Northeast Delhi seat, Dilshad Ali, is an electrical engineer. But the party’s East Delhi nominee Mohmd Yunus has studied till Class V and Chandni Chowk candidate Md Mustaqeen has not gone beyond the primary school. Ajay Maken (New Delhi) and Sandeep Dikshit (East Delhi) are post-graduates.

Congress and BJP nominees Ramesh Kumar and Ramesh Bidhuri from South Delhi are among 16 candidates who have not given details of their educational qualifications. BJP’s Chetan Chauhan, fighting from East Delhi, has done BA and BCom.