BJP shaky on traditional turf

The BJP is in a tight position in at least five of its traditional strongholds. In Shalimar Bagh, the area BJP leader Bhajan Singh Walia rebelled against the sitting party MLA Ravindra Bansal.

The BJP may have to do some fresh thinking on retaining the thirteen seats that are considered traditional strongholds. Some of these BJP strongholds like Kalkaji, Paharganj, Chandni Chowk and Patel Nagar are already held by the Congress.

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According to party workers, the BJP is in a tight position in at least five of its traditional strongholds. In Shalimar Bagh, the area BJP leader Bhajan Singh Walia rebelled against the sitting party MLA Ravindra Bansal. Walia has eroded party prospects by joining ranks with the Congress.

In Mehrauli, BJP MLA Brahm Singh Tanwar faces stiff competition from Congress candidate Balram Tanwar. Balram had stood as an Independent candidate in the last elections and had lost by a narrow margin of about 1000 votes. Now that he is the official Congress candidate he is in a better position to take on Brahm Singh, party sources said.

In Kasturba Nagar, sitting BJP MLA Sushil Chaudhry faces stiff competition from Ashok Chopra. In Rajender Nagar too, BJP MLA Puran Chand Yogi does not have the advantage he had in the last two elections of triangular contests. It is a direct contest this time between him and the Congress candidate Raj Kumar Kohli.

The BJP is however hoping to make a come back in Patel Nagar constituency currently held by Congress MLA Ramakant Goswami.

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BJP strongholds

Sarojini Nagar

Kasturba Nagar

Janakpuri

Shalimar Bagh

Mehrauli

Krishna Nagar

Vishwas Nagar

Paharganj

Chandni Chowk

Rajender Nagar

Moti Nagar

Patel Nagar