While academic brilliance was never an issue in elections in India, the polls on May 7 in Delhi will witness battle among a total of 160 candidates, of which 31 have never completed matriculations, five are just fifth graders and 18 lawyers.
Union Minister and Congress candidate Kapil Sibal, who is seeking re-election from Chandani Chowk seat, holds a law degree while his political rival and BJP nominee Vijender Gupta is a post-graduate in commerce. NELOPA (United) supported Milind Bharati has done MBBS and is taking on sitting Congress MP Krishna Tirath and former Delhi Mayor Meera Kanwria (BJP), among 13 others, from the Northwest Delhi seat. Tirath and Kanwaria have done BEd.
Buddhi Viveki Vikas Party nominee PL Premi, who is seeking mandate from Chandani Chowk, holds a degree in law and a PhD. BSP candidate from the Northeast Delhi seat, Dilshad Ali, is an electrical engineer. Party nominees Trilok Chand Sharma (New Delhi) and businessman Deepak Bhardwaj (West Delhi) are graduates in Arts and Commerce, respectively, while Rakesh Hans (Northwest Delhi) has completed just matriculation.
But the party's East Delhi nominee Mohmd Yunus has studied till Class V and Chandni Chowk candidate Md Mustaqeen has not gone beyond the primary school. Among some others, Congress candidates Mahabal Mishra (West Delhi) has studied till Class XII, JP Agarwal (Northeast Delhi) is a graduate, Ajay Maken (New Delhi) and Sandeep Dikshit (East Delhi) are post-graduates. Among the BJP candidates, Jagdish Mukhi from West Delhi holds a doctorate while BL Sharma Prem from Northeast Delhi and Vijay Goel from New Delhi are graduates. Cricketer Chetan Chauhan, fighting from East Delhi, has done BA and BCom. Congress and BJP nominees Ramesh Kumar and Ramesh Bidhuri from South Delhi are among 16 candidates who have not given details of their educational qualifications.
