Atishi-Vs-Alka Lamba-Vs-Ramesh Bidhuri Battle In Kalkaji: Early Vote-Count Trend Shows BJP Ahead

Kalkaji Election Result: After the New Delhi constituency, the result of the Kalkaji seat is perhaps the most awaited in the first assembly election of the year. This seat has become the centre of attention as incumbent CM Atishi is contesting against former party colleague Alka Lamba and one of the most controversial politicians in Delhi, the BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri.

The first few rounds of vote counting for the Kalkaji constituency showed Ramesh Bidhuri taking an early lead with Attishi and Alka Lamba trailing at 9:50 AM.

The campaign in Kalkaji in the run up to the polls was also extremely intense and acidic. At one point, CM Atishi was even reduced to tears after former MP Ramesh Bidhuri "stooped to an unbelievably low level" with his attack on her surname. The Congress, on the other hand, is banking heavily on former Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba to unseat the incumbent CM.

Atishi, who became Delhi’s chief minister following Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation, aims to retain her seat in a constituency AAP has dominated since 2015. However, the challenge this time is formidable, with Bidhuri’s inflammatory rhetoric and Lamba’s focus on inclusivity making the race unpredictable. Atishi's campaign highlights her welfare initiatives, such as free bus rides and subsidized electricity, but she has faced criticism for neglecting local infrastructure issues.

Bidhuri, a former BJP MP, has often stirred controversy with his divisive and hateful remarks but is a strong contender. In fact, the AAP acknowledged him as the BJP's CM candidate. 

Lamba, on the other hand, is a ground leader with a background in student activism. The Congress hoped that her inclusivity pitch and promises, like that of Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women, would resonate well with the voters.

The constituency, spanning affluent areas like Friends Colony and Maharani Bagh, as well as slums like Govindpuri, reflects stark socio-economic divides. Residents are concerned about issues like infrastructure, drainage, sanitation, and pollution from local industrial plants and are likely to have voted on these.