Delhi Election: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ravinder Singh Negi emerged victorious from the Patparganj Assembly Constituency in Delhi’s Assembly elections, securing 74,080 votes.
Negi successfully defended his candidacy against both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. He defeated AAP’s Avadh Ojha, who secured 45,988 votes, while Congress candidate Anil Chaudhary garnered 16,549 votes.
BJP’s resurgence in the Capital
Following his victory, Negi addressed the media, celebrating the BJP’s comeback in the Capital after 27 years. “Last time, there was an AAP tsunami, and I, a common man from a middle-class poor family, was fighting against Manish Sisodia. Even in that tsunami, I gave him a tough fight and made him struggle… After 27 years, BJP has made a strong comeback with a massive victory, and we have won in Patparganj,” he said.
On the other hand, AAP’s Avadh Ojha expressed confidence in his future prospects. “I secured second position, but next time, I will try to bring myself to the top,” he stated while addressing the media.
At a rally attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ghonda on January 29, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva had called all party candidates to the stage. As they walked up to Modi, many bowed and touched his feet. Among them, Ravinder Singh Negi, the party candidate from Patparganj, stood out – after he touched the PM’s feet, Modi touched his feet back, thrice.
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Political significance of Patparganj
Patparganj has long been a crucial battleground for political parties in Delhi. The constituency, located just beyond the banks of the Yamuna River, has seen a diverse range of leaders represent it in the Legislative Assembly. It also has a varied demographic composition, with 226,310 voters—122,194 men, 104,100 women, and 16 third-gender electors.
During the campaign, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia over the alleged Excise Policy scam. “Sisodia, who was the incumbent MLA from Patparganj and the architect of the liquor scam with Arvind Kejriwal, did a lot of corruption here. He got scared and ran away from this seat,” he said during a rally.
Meanwhile, AAP convenor and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warned Patparganj voters against supporting the BJP. “Trust me, I went to Vishwas Nagar and Gandhi Nagar (two seats held by BJP) and saw the condition myself. It’s like nark (hell) there… Patparganj will also become hell if BJP wins here, because AAP will form the government, and then the BJP MLA will only fight and give us gaali,” he had said.
Controversies surrounding Negi
Negi’s campaign was not without controversy. In October, Negi was seen in several viral videos approaching shopkeepers, particularly those selling dairy products, and directing them to display their real names. Several videos showed Negi asking Muslim shopkeepers to display their names outside their establishments. In other videos shared on his social media accounts, he advised Hindu street vendors to display saffron flags on their carts. Additionally, ahead of festivals, he visited butcher shops, requesting them to remain closed out of respect for Hindu religious sentiments.
Demographic and developmental concerns
Patparganj has a diverse population, comprising 22% Uttarakhandis, 15% Purvanchalis, 15% Brahmins, 12% Punjabis, 9% Muslims, 8% Vaishyas, 7% Gujjars, and 7% Scheduled Castes.
The constituency primarily consists of middle-class and upper-middle-class residents, many of whom are aspirational. Their voting patterns often reflect their socioeconomic aspirations.
However, it remains to be seen whether Negi’s victory will lead to tangible changes in the constituency. Patparganj continues to grapple with issues such as unauthorised colonies, Jhuggi Jhopri clusters, broken roads, inadequate water supply, and overflowing sewage.
Rakesh Gahrwal, a resident of Nehru Camp, highlighted the water crisis, stating, “We receive water for only two hours in the morning.” Electricity shortages are another major concern.
Also read: Delhi Election Results: BJP’s Marwah stuns Manish Sisodia in Jangpura
Mohammed Ali, from a slum cluster near Shashi Garden, expressed frustration, saying, “We are not allowed to use power on the second and third floors. Politicians make promises, but nothing ever changes.”
Meanwhile, residents remain sceptical about infrastructure projects, arguing that they often do not align with their needs.
“They invest in construction projects we don’t need while neglecting essential issues like water and electricity,” said Nirmal, a resident of Mayur Vihar Phase-2. He further noted, “The water quality has deteriorated, with pipes often getting contaminated by nearby drains.”
As Patparganj enters a new political phase under Negi’s leadership, residents await meaningful progress on the issues that matter most to them.
