Delhi Assembly Elections: All You Need To Know About Karol Bagh Constituency

The high-stakes Delhi election is just days away. Polls to the 70-member Delhi Assembly promises to be a triangular contest with the AAP hoping to retain power on the plank of development and the BJP and the Congress determined to put up a spirited challenge. All major parties have announced their candidates for the February 8 polls. The counting of votes will be taken up on February 11. Nominations of nearly 700 candidates for the Delhi elections were found to be valid by poll authorities after scrutiny. Over 1.46 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the February 8 Assembly election in Delhi, according to the final electoral roll.

In the 70-member Delhi Legislative Assembly, there are several key constituencies including Karol Bagh which will be watched closely by political analysts. Karol Bagh is one of several constituencies that together make up the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, currently held by BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi. 

The other constituencies that constitutes the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat are: Patel Nagar, Moti Nagar, Delhi Cantt, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi, Kasturba Nagar, Malviya Nagar, R K Puram, Greater Kailash.

Karol Bagh Assembly constituency falls under central Delhi district and has a total of 1,64,715 voters out of whom 74,272 are females, according to the Election Commission.

Karol Bagh Assembly Constituency Issues

The constituency is home to some of the city's busiest and famous markets such as Connaught Place, Sarojini Nagar, Defence Colony, Khan Market, South Extension, Green Park and Hauz Khas. For traders, sealing tops the priority list. Amar Colony, Meharchand Market, Green Park, Motia Khan and Mansarovar Garden markets have also faced sealing. In Amar Colony, protesting traders have been baton-charged by police.

It was in this constituency that Delhi saw its 'Chipko movement' when residents protested the proposed felling of 14,000 trees to build high-rises for government employees and large commercial spaces.

Key candidates of Karol Bagh constituency 

Karol Bagh Assembly Constituency: Candidates

In the 2020 Delhi Assembly election, the key candidates in the Karol Bagh constituency are Vishesh Ravi of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Yogender Chandoliya of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Gaurav Dhanak of the Indian National Congress.

Delhi Assembly Elections 2015: Karol Bagh

In the 2015 Delhi Assembly Elections, AAP's Vishesh Ravi got 59.80 per cent of the votes and won the constituency. He defeated BJP's Yogender Chandoliya and Congress leader Madan Khorwal. The total voter turnout stood at 1,12,751.

Delhi Assembly Elections 2013: Karol Bagh

AAP's Vishesh Ravi won the Karol Bagh Assembly seat in the 2013 state elections. He defeated BJP's Surender Pal Ratawal and Congress leader Madan Khorwal. Vishesh Ravi got 33.06 per cent of the votes. The total voter turnout stood at 1,02,169.

Delhi Assembly Elections 2008: Karol Bagh

BJP leader Surender Pal Rathawal bagged the Karol Bagh seat in the 2008 state elections. He got 45.71 per cent votes and defeated Congress' Madan Khorwal. BSP's Veena Singh stood at the third position. The total voter turnout stood at 84,756.

Karol Bagh: 1993, 1998 And 2003 Assembly Elections Results

The winner in the 2003 elections was Surender Pal Ratawal of BJP who got 21,812 votes. In the 1998 Assembly elections, Moti Lal Bokolia of the Congress won this seat by getting 26,466 votes. Ratawal had won this seat in the 1993 Assembly elections also.