It’s Tyagi vs Tyagi in seat with largest number of candidates

“Burari had a large number of candidates contesting in the last Assembly elections also. They really don’t eat into the vote share much. The AAP candidate from here also won’t make much of a difference as he is not originally from here,” Deepak Tyagi said.

He brushes off the other candidates,saying,“Many just contest elections to earn a quick buck.”

Burari has seven Independent candidates in the fray,besides candidates from Bahujan Samaj Party,and Aam Aadmi Party,among others.

For most of these candidates,the Assembly election is an opportunity “to prove themselves” in a constituency where no development has taken place for a long time. Vijay Kumar of Rastriya Mazdoor Ekta Party and Prem Shankar Sharma of Akhil Bhartiya Sudhar Party cite “lack of development” as their reason for contesting from Burari even though many of them don’t live in Burari.

“There is a large population living in Burari,but nothing has been done for the people here. I see an opportunity in proving myself,” Sharma said.

While they are confident of making a mark,come December 4,Krishan Tyagi is confident of his win.

“You can’t stop people from contesting. Despite 24 candidates last time,I managed to win. There is no particular reason for so many people contesting from Burari. It has always been the case,” Krishan Tyagi said.

Rebutting this,Deepak claimed that the only reason Krishan Tyagi won in 2008 was because the sitting MLA then,Jile Singh Chauhan of Congress,had worked against him. “This time,I have set the system right,” he said.

Both Tyagis have their relatives campaigning for them. Deepak’s brother,who is a scientist in the USA,is in Delhi to support him.

In Sant Nagar,his sister-in-law Preeti Tyagi along with other women relatives have taken up the door-to-door campaign. “We are out campaigning every day. Our entire family is out canvassing votes for him,” Preeti said.

To woo the Poorvanchali voters in Burari,Deepak plans to get West Delhi MP Mahabal Mishra to campaign for him. “Congress MP Raj Babbar,Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and MP Mahabal Mishra are expected to campaign for me,” he said.

Krishan Tyagi,on the other hand,is planning to get Bhojpuri star Manoj Tiwari,who recently joined the BJP,to campaign for him. Senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj,Shatrughan Sinha and Nitin Gadkari will also campaign for him. For residents of Burari,however,the number of candidates does not make much of a difference — their problems have remained the same over the years.

“Water is still a problem. There is garbage lying everywhere leading to mosquito breeding. But no one bothers with these issues. They (candidates) only make promises and move on,” Savita,a resident of Sant Nagar,said.