Five months ago, Sandeep Dikshit of Congress walked through the meandering lanes of Jamia Nagar amid cheering supporters and swept the Lok Sabha polls. Today, the Assembly by-election in Okhla seat has become a formidable issue for the party and his mother, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

While Nizamuddin councillor Farhad Suri of the Congress struggles to mobilise support in hopes of replacing former Congress legislator Pervez Hashmi — he was recently elected as the Rajya Sabha MP from Delhi necessitating the by-election — Congress sources claim infighting in the party may scuttle its chances of an easy victory. 

The area has 43 per cent Muslim voters, a 15 per cent Gujjar electorate and 11 per cent OBCs.

As Iftar evenings around Batla House chowk buzz with political chatter and politicians are invited by different groups to mark their support in September 15 election, things have virtually narrowed down to a battle between the Dikshits and Hashmi. One of the reasons cited for Sandeep Dikshit’s sweeping victory is the popularity of Sheila Dikshit and the Congress victory in the Delhi Assembly polls in November 2008. For the Dikshits, the by-poll, therefore, acquires greater importance.

On Saturday, Dikshit, accompanied by cricketer-MP Mohammad Azharuddin, addressed a public meeting at Batla House chowk declaring her support for Suri.

Hashmi has held the seat since 1993 when he was first elected as a Janata Dal MLA, and is reclaiming his old turf. Party sources claim he wanted to keep the seat in the family by trying to get his son Farhan or first wife Shaila to contest on a Congress ticket.

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