Delhi Assembly elections 2015: Important facts and major stakeholders
New Delhi: Political temperature of Delhi, the national capital, has soared after the BJP named former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as its CM candidate for upcoming Assembly elections in the state. The stage is now
Uttarakhandis:
Another regional group that is trying to assert its presence consists of people from Uttarakhand which claims to have a population of around 35 lakh in Delhi.
The Uttarakhandis are also demanding their adequate representation in Delhi's politics.
Chandra Ballabh Tamta, the patron of ‘Akhil Bhartiya Uttarakhand Manch' believes that it's time for political parties to start putting up candidates from Uttarakhand in local elections.
“Every political party should give tickets to at least 4-5 Uttarakhandis. It's time for political parties to start taking us seriously as we can't be ignored for long,” said Mr. Tamta.
Vaishyas:
‘Vaishya' is another important community which constitutes around 8 percent of the electorate.
They have been traditional supporters of BJP but Arvind Kejriwal, AAP chief, is trying to make an inroad into this constituency by flaunting his ‘bania' background.
His “ I'm a bania and I know dhandha” remarks created a political controversy as it was seen as a blatant attempt to indulge in identity politics.
Gujjars:
Gujjars are the third most powerful section of Delhi electorate that constitutes around 7 percent of the voters. Like Jats, they are also known for their muscle-power powerful and decide the outcome in their areas of influence.
Sikhs:
Sikhs constitute around 5 percent of the Delhi electorate. Sikh community had by and large supported BJP in previous elections but after Narendra Modi's ascendance in BJP, they are believed to have changed their preference.
Now the Sikhs votes are divided between BJP and AAP. Congress is a big NO for them as the scars of 1984 anti-Sikh riots are yet to fully disappear.
Muslims:
Muslims of Delhi are one of the most important stakeholders as far as elections in national capital are concerned.
With a population of around 12 percent, they have always played a significant role as they prefer to vote en-bloc in favour of one or the other party.
Traditionally, a Congress vote-bank, Muslims have now shifted their allegiance to Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), according to most of the pre-poll surveys.
Women:
Another important constituency that has become more and more assertive consists of women who constitute around 47 percent of the population.
Women security is one of the most important issues on the agendas of almost every political party.
With increasing incidents of rape and eve teasing in the state, every party is making promises of providing Delhi's women with full-proof security.
In fact, BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi has said that she will focus on the issue of women security in her election campaigns.
If most of the pre-poll surveys are any indication then Kiran Bedi's candidature has given the BJP an advantage among the female electorate of the national capital.
Auto-rickshaw drivers:
Auto-rickshaw drivers are also an important stakeholder in these elections.
According to an estimate, there are around 1.25 lakh auto-rickshaw drivers in Delhi who are politically very active and every party from Congress and BJP to AAP have been wooing them aggressively.
Slum dwellers:
Slum dwellers are other important stakeholders in Delhi's politics. With a population of around 17 lakh they play a significant role in deciding the fates of political leaders in elections.
Delhi has around 4,20,000 jhuggies and those living in that part are wooed by every political party with tall promises every time elections take place in the national capital.
If we add the population of those living in slums, unauthorized colonies and jhuggi-jhoparis then they add up to a staggering 49 percent of the population and it makes them perhaps the biggest pressure group in elections.