Kanhaiya Kumar Faces Tough Contest in North East Delhi, Dismisses 'Tukde Tukde Gang' Allegations

Former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, now a Congress candidate, is gearing up for a tough fight in the North East Delhi constituency against BJP's sitting MP Manoj Tiwari in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In an interview, Kumar addressed the challenges he faces and the allegations of being part of the 'tukde tukde gang'.

Kumar expressed confidence in the Congress party's decision to field him from North East Delhi, saying the party has reposed its faith in him. He believes people are unhappy with the BJP government's performance on issues like unemployment, price rise, and economic disparity. "The Congress is a national party and I am fighting for the larger cause of justice and representation for all sections of society," Kumar said.

Dismissing the 'tukde tukde gang' allegations as political propaganda, Kumar questioned why agencies under the BJP government have not arrested him if the allegations were true. He pointed out that the Union Home Ministry itself has stated it has no information about the 'tukde tukde gang '. "The real issues are the government's failure to deliver on its promises," Kumar emphasized.

Why this matters: The North East Delhi contest is being closely watched as a high-stakes battle between the BJP and Congress. Kumar's candidacy and the 'tukde tukde gang' controversy have added an extra layer of political intrigue to the race. The outcome could provide insights into the mood of the electorate and the effectiveness of the BJP's campaign narrative.

Kumar acknowledged that while he would have preferred to contest from his home state of Bihar, he is committed to the Congress party's decision. He shot to fame in 2016 when he was arrested, prosecuted, and later cleared of all charges in a sedition case over an 'azadi' speech he made at JNU. The episode put 'Communist' Kanhaiya on the political map, leading to his stint with the CPI and his unsuccessful 2019 Lok Sabha bid from Begusarai. Now, as a Congress candidate, Kumar faces his toughest electoral challenge yet against BJP heavyweight Manoj Tiwari in North East Delhi.

Key Takeaways

• Kanhaiya Kumar, ex-JNU leader, is Congress candidate in NE Delhi for 2024 LS polls.
• Kumar confident of Congress' decision, says people unhappy with BJP's performance.
• Dismisses 'tukde tukde gang' allegations as political propaganda, questions lack of arrests.
• NE Delhi contest seen as high-stakes battle between BJP and Congress.
• Kumar faces tough challenge against BJP's Manoj Tiwari in his first Congress outing.