Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Kapil Mishra, a former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, has been announced as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate for the Karawal Nagar constituency in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The sitting MLA Mohan Singh Bisht has been shifted to contest from Mustafabad.
Voting is set for February 5, with results to be declared on February 8.
Here are five facts about Kapil Mishra:
1.Early Life and Background
Born on November 13, 1980, in Delhi, Kapil Mishra is the son of Annapurna Mishra, a former East Delhi mayor, and Rameshwar Mishra, a socialist leader. He completed his education at Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College.
2.Social Activism
Mishra co-founded “Youth for Justice,” addressing socio-economic issues like farmer suicides and encroachments on the Yamuna River bed. Before entering politics, he worked with Greenpeace and Amnesty International. His book It’s Common v/s Wealth highlighted corruption during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
3.Political Journey with AAP
In 2015, Mishra won the Karawal Nagar seat as an AAP candidate, defeating BJP’s Mohan Singh Bisht by nearly 45,000 votes. He served as Delhi’s water resources minister but was sacked in 2017 due to alleged irregularities. Later, he was disqualified as an MLA in 2019 for anti-party activities and defection.
4.Controversies
Mishra accused the AAP government of corruption, including claims that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accepted Rs 2 crore in cash, though no evidence was found. His tenure has been marked by controversies, including inflammatory remarks during the North East Delhi riots in 2020, leading to accusations of inciting violence.
5.Role in BJP
Joining the BJP on August 17, 2019, Mishra rose to become Vice President of the Delhi BJP in August 2023. Known for his outspoken and often controversial statements, he remains a polarizing figure in Delhi politics.
