For last 10 years, neither BJP nor Congress could find a fresh face for Malviya Nagar constituency. This makes a sort of ‘arch rival' contest between sitting MLA Kalicharan Saraf from BJp and challenger Archana Sharma from Congress, third time in a row.
On previous two occasion Kalicharan Saraf was the winner with last time winning margin reducing to 1,700 votes.
“We have seen repeating of winning candidate. This is a rare occasion when two time losing candidate has been repeated,” said Manish Goyal, a resident of Malviya Nagar.
Protest against Archana Sharma
There had been protests against the candidature of Archana Sharma. Two state minister rank leaders – Rajiv Arora and Mahesh Sharma – met senior party leaders in New Delhi and protested against the candidature of Archana Sharma. They alleged corruption charges against Archana Sharma and said that there is great opposition of Sharma in the constituency.
However, the high command gave another chance to Archana Sharma, who claims that she will dethrone Kalicharan Saraf this time from traditional seat of BJP.
“We have been working for last five years for the development of Malviya Nagar. Since we were in government we were able to get several development works sanctioned. We are hopeful that public will vote for me,” said Archana Sharma.
‘BJP to win again'
BJP candidate Kalicharan Saraf is hopeful for his eighth victory in assembly elections. He had fought eight times and lost only once in 1998. He has been MLA continuously since Malviya Nagar constituency was carved out in 2003 after delimitation.
“I have emotional relationship with each and an every member of our constituency. I have been with them in their happiness and sorrow. I want to spend my life serving people of my constituency. I am hopeful that I get lucky eighth time also,” said Kalicharan Saraf.
Saraf is the strongest BJP candidate in Jaipur. He has been health minister and education minister in Raje government. The Malviya Nagar constituency constitutes Brahmin, Jain, Baniya, Sindhi and Scheduled caste votes. The deciding factor has always been the votes of kachchi basti where Saraf has deep inroads.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
