With inputs from Sri Krishna, Delhi
Considered a prestigious Lok Sabha seat, this constituency has been represented in the past by senior BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj, late chief minister Madan Lal Khurana and senior party leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra who defeated former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here. Given this pedigree, the 2019 contest, however, is between little known sitting BJP MP Ramesh Kumar Bhiduri, 57, and two new comers: AAP’s Raghav Chadha, a 31-year-old chartered accountant who is the AAP’s treasurer and national spokesperson, and Olympic medal winner turned professional boxer Vijendra Singh, 33, for Congress.
It is spread across 10 Assembly segments—Bijwasan, Palam, Mehrauli, Chhatarpur, Deoli, Ambedkar Nagar, Sangam Vihar, Kalkaji, Tughlakabad and Badarpur.
From the architectural grandeurs of Mehrauli to the energetic nightclubs of Hauz Khas, South Delhi constituency is a unique mix of diverse voters. However, contrary to common perception, the constituency is not a hub of the urban elite. At the heart of South Delhi is its villages, slums and unauthorised localities. With a large number of South Delhi voters coming from its villages, the seat may be decided by community and caste equations.
As per the Election commission of India (ECI) website, the constituency has a total of 2067463 voters.
The nominations of 38 candidates from different political parties or standing independently have been accepted by the ECI. 23 nominations have been rejected by the ECI. In all, 27 candidates are contesting the elections.
[flexiblemap src=”http://data.opencity.in/Data/Delhi-Parliament-Constituency-South-Delhi-Map-V-1.kml” width=”100%” height=”400px” ]
Note – Map for representation purpose | Source – http://datameet.org
2014 Lok Sabha Elections
Incumbent MP: Ramesh Bidhuri, BJP
| Name of candidate | Party | Votes secured | Vote share (over total votes polled) |
| Ramesh Bidhuri | BJP | 4,97,980 | 45.15 |
| Col. Devinder Sehrawat | AAP | 3,90,980 | 35.45 |
| Ramesh Kumar | INC | 1,25,213 | 11.35 |
| Sanjay Kumar Rai | BSP | 10,861 | 0.99 |
Source: ECI
Know your candidates
Ramesh Bidhuri (BJP)
Ramesh Bidhuri is the incumbent MP from South Delhi. Since his college days, Bidhuri has been active in the BJP. In 2003-08 he became the Vice President of BJP, Delhi unit. Naturally, he was the most coveted candidate from South Delhi. He won three consecutive terms as an MLA from 2003 to 2014 . He stood as the BJP candidate for 2014 Lok Sabha Elections and won.
In his campaigns, Bidhuri has emphasised his work on bringing water to this most water-scarce region of the capital. His promises: “Water for each kitchen, work to begin on Delhi Metro Phase IV station in the first 100 days of election, and revamp of unauthorised colonies.”
More details about the candidate can be found in the affidavit filed with the ECI here.
For details about his performance in the 16th Lok Sabha, read here.
- Phone: 9811039678
- E-mail: rameshbidhuri@yahoo.in
- Facebook: ramesh.bidhuri.9
Financial details of candidate
| Year | Assets | Liabilities |
| 2019 | Movable Rs. 13478244 Immovable Rs. 118000000 |
Rs. 2038454 |
Source: MyNeta
Raghav Chadha (AAP)
Raghav Chadha is a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, and is a member of the Political Affairs Committee of the party. He is the national treasurer and a national spokesperson of Aam Aadmi Party,and a practicing chartered accountant. He is contesting from South Delhi as an AAP candidate.
AAP’s focus remains full statehood for Delhi. Fighting on the agenda of ‘Poorna Rajya Banao Jhadu ka Button Dabao’, Raghav Chadha said if AAP gets all seven seats in Delhi, the party will ensure that full statehood is granted within 24 months of winning the elections.
Read his full interview here.
More details can be found in the affidavit filed with the ECI here.
- Phone: 9810231753
- E-mail: raghavchada111188@gmail.com
- Facebook: raghav.chadha.96
Financial details of candidate
| Year | Assets | Liabilities |
| 2019 | Movable Rs. 1647954 Immovable NIL |
NIL |
Source: MyNeta
Vijender Singh (INC)
An Olympic bronze-medal winning boxer is Congress’s candidate from the South Delhi Lok Sabha seat. Vijender Singh won the bronze medal in 2008 Olympics, quit competitive boxing and joined professional circuit in 2015. However, he maintains that he will not quit boxing altogether.
This, however, is a fight like no other he has faced. As the boxer, who has never lost a professional bout put it, unlike in boxing, in politics there are a lot of below-the-belt blows. But he is happy to be with the Congress as he feels his vision for the country is similar to that of the party and promises voters that he will do his best for them.
More details can be found in the affidavit filed with the ECI here.
- Phone: 9466122699
- E-mail: vijenderbeniwal99@yahoo.co.in
- Facebook: vijendersinghboxer
Financial details of candidate
| Year | Assets | Liabilities |
| 2019 | Movable Rs. 357.60 Immovable Rs. 505.00 |
Rs. 82.85 |
Source: MyNeta
Full list of candidates contesting from South Delhi
| Serial No. | Name Of Candidate | Address of Candidate | Party Affiliation | Symbol Allotted |
| 1 | Ramesh Bidhuri | 179,BANGAR MOHALLA TUGHLAKABAD NEW DELHI 44 |
Bharatiya Janata Party |
Lotus |
| 2 | Raghav Chadha | 473, BLOCK DOUBLE STORY,NEW RAJINDER NAGAR, NEW DELHI-110060 |
Aam Aadmi Party | Broom |
| 3 | Vijender | 65 KALUWAS,BHIWANI HARYANA 21 | Indian National Congress |
Hand |
| 4 | Siddhant Gautam | 1614,IInd 60 FEET MAIN ROAD H. No. D 11 PANCHSHEEL |
Bahujan Samaj Party | Elephant |
| 5 | Aditya Kumar Naveen | COLONY,VILLAGE BASANTPUR FARIDABAD |
Hum Bhartiya Party | Ganna Kisan |
| 6 | D.K. Chopra | A/A1039 VASANT KUNJ,NEW DELHI- 110070 |
All India Forward Bloc |
Lion |
| 7 | Jitendra Sharma | H-34,BLOCK H MANSROVER PARK DELHI 32 |
Prism | Triangle |
| 8 | Dalbir Singh Malik | B-1,B BLOCK | Voters Party International |
Road Roller |
| 9 | Dilip Kumar | HOUSE G-350,MAIN 17 FOOT ROAD | Sanatan Sanskriti Raksha Dal |
Grapes |
| 10 | Deepak Kumar | 705 F-5 WARD NO 2,MEHRAULI DELHI 110030 |
Aapki Apni Party (Peoples) |
Battery torch |
| 11 | Desh Kumar | B-8,1 st FLOOR | Akhil Bharatiya Jan Sangh |
Tractor Chalata Kisan |
| 12 | Navanit | 51,NEW COLONY | National Youth Party |
Air Conditioner |
| 13 | Mahender Singh Churiyana | WZ-93 A TILAK NAGAR 80 SQR. YARD,NEW DELHI 110018 |
Peoples Party of India (Democratic) |
Basket containing Fruits |
| 14 | Mathews | FLAT NO 237 CYCLE MARKET,1ST FLOOR JHANDEWALAN SWAMI RAM TIRTH NAGAR |
Bhartiya Insan Party | DIAMOND |
| 15 | Mohan Kumar Gupta | H NO. 175 PREM NAGAR,BURARI DELHI 110084 |
Mazdoor Kirayedar Vikas Party |
Gas Cylinder |
| 16 | Rajendra Prasad Gupta | M-84,SAURABH VIHAR | Parivartan Samaj Party |
Auto- Rickshaw |
| 17 | Ram Khilawan | 15/109 BHIM BASTI,JAUNAPUR NEW DELHI 110047 |
Proutist Bloc, India | FLUTE |
| 18 | K. Roshan Kumar | H. NO 658 JANTA FLATS,GROUP-3 POCKET C VIKAS PURI -59 |
Pyramid Party of India |
PINEAPPLE |
| 19 | Suman Yadhav | 1351/E GOVINDPURI,GALI NO 8 KALKAJI NEW DELHI-19 |
Jai Maha Bharath Party |
Helicopter |
| 20 | Sumedha Bodh | 645/1G,ASHOKA APARTMENTS DEOLI VILLAGE |
Jan Samman party | Neck Tie |
| 21 | Sobran Singh Chauhan | 194- SURAJ APARTMENT,SURAJ KUND ROAD |
Rashtriya Rashtrawadi Party |
Almirah |
| 22 | Sandeep Gupta | A-199 KUSUMPUR PAHARI,VASANT KUNJ NEW DELHI 110070 |
Rashtriya Jan Adhikar Party |
Cup & Saucer |
| 23 | Nausha Khan | MOHALLA VIRATIYA,HOUSE NO 27 CHHIBARAMAU |
Independent | Whistle |
| 24 | Birju Nayak | F-26 SANJAY COLONY,OKHLA PHASE II NEW DELHI 110020 |
Independent | Water Tank |
| 25 | Roshan Kumar Choudhary | K-960, B-11, BLOCK k,,SANGAM VIHAR, NEW DELHI-110080 |
Independent | Bat |
| 26 | Sunil Kumar | 173 DEOLI VILLAGE,NEW DELHI 110062 | Independent | Pan |
| 27 | Harsh Nath Verma | 713/19,MAIDAN GRAHI | Independent | APPLE |
Issues of the constituency
As mentioned earlier, the constituency is a mix of upper and high-income residents, and a scattering of unkempt villages and unauthorised colonies whose residents form the majority of the electorate, whose main problems are acute shortage of drinking water and lack of sanitation facilities. The candidates and their cadre, especially the BJP, peddle the line that ‘local issues’ need to take a back seat since the general election “is for choosing the Prime Minister”; yet, voters insist that they address their local issues.
Vegetable shop owner Bulbul Singh says, “Do you see the open drain right next to the shop? AAP leaders just walk past it, yet they still hope that we will vote for them. Do you think they care to notice the filth lying here, and the fact that we are living in such conditions? Our vote is for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as at least with the Balakot attack he has proved that someone cares about the country.”
On the other hand, AAP has its own supporters, such as grocery shop owner Dilshad Babu. “Jhadu (broom, the AAP symbol) is the obvious choice” said Dilshad, saying AAP got water pipelines to reach his area. “Kejriwal has worked hard for our area and it is because of him that we have pipelines and regular water supply. Residents are happy and satisfied and we will vote for AAP. We are not concerned with who the other candidates are”.
Darshan Singh of Neb Sarai says, “Our local MP (BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri) has not done anything to improve our living conditions. It is unfortunate that he got the ticket again. AAP is also not showing much vigour. So we will vote for Vijender Singh. After all he has some achievements of his own”.
It could, therefore, be anyone’s game.