Candidate backed by Swaraj Abhiyan secures just 289 votes

New Delhi, May 17: Sujata Gupta, an independent candidate backed by Swaraj Abhiyan, organisation led by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, through a process based on the lines of US primaries ended up securing just 289 votes.

"We will certainly review the results and so will the candidate. Prima facie, contesting as an independent candidate did hit us in the polls," Anupam, Swaraj Abhiyan's media coordinator said.

The Wazirpur ward was won by the BJP candidate Dr Mahender Nagpal who defeated AAP's Sachin Singhal by a margin of 3608 votes. Swaraj Abhiyan had earlier shortlisted Gupta and Amanjyot Kaur, both related to the organisation, and social activists Pankaj Gupta and Ashok Sharma as probable candidates to contest from Wazirpur ward.

It facilitated a debate among the candidates and asked people to choose among them. The results of the voting were declared today. Modeled on the lines of US primaries, the candidates debated on how they would address the woes of their ward.

The organisation had also roped in services of former Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh Noor Mohammad for overseeing the candidate selection process. Over 5,000 odd people from the ward voted in the process via SMS and IVR.

Gupta secured 43.89 per cent of votes, followed by Kaur 31.89. She file her nomination tomorrow, the organisation said. Swaraj Abhiyan is not a political party yet, but may soon make an announcement in this regard in the coming two-three months.

PTI