Kapil Mishra Replaces Sitting MLA in Karawal Nagar
Kapil Mishra, a former leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been fielded by the BJP from the Karawal Nagar constituency for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. He replaces sitting BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht, who will now contest from the Mustafabad seat.
Delhi will go to the polls on February 5, and results will be declared on February 8.
Here are five key facts about Kapil Mishra:
1. Early Life and Family Background
Kapil Mishra was born on November 13, 1980, in Delhi. He comes from a politically active family. His mother, Annapurna Mishra, is a former mayor of East Delhi, while his father, Rameshwar Mishra, was a prominent socialist leader.
Mishra completed his education at Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Delhi University.
2. Activism and Early Career
Before entering politics, Mishra co-founded “Youth for Justice,” a group that campaigned on socio-economic issues like farmer suicides and environmental concerns. He also led protests against corruption in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
His career includes stints with Greenpeace and Amnesty International, focusing on policy advocacy. He gained recognition for his book, It’s Common v/s Wealth, which exposed corruption in the Commonwealth Games.
3. Entry into Politics with AAP
Kapil Mishra entered politics in 2015 as an AAP candidate. He contested from Karawal Nagar in the Delhi Assembly elections and won by a margin of nearly 45,000 votes against BJP’s Mohan Singh Bisht.
He was appointed as Delhi’s water resources minister in Arvind Kejriwal’s cabinet. However, in 2017, he was sacked from the cabinet following allegations of corruption and was later disqualified as an MLA in 2019 for anti-party activities.
4. The Water Tanker Scam and Corruption Allegations
As water resources minister, Mishra formed a committee to investigate the alleged ₹400-crore water tanker scam under the previous Congress government. He later accused the AAP government of delaying action in the case.
In 2017, he alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accepted ₹2 crore in cash from health minister Satyendar Jain. These claims were dismissed due to a lack of evidence, and Mishra was subsequently removed from the cabinet.
During a hunger strike at Kejriwal’s residence in May 2017, he was physically attacked by a protester before his supporters intervened.
5. Joining BJP and Controversies
Kapil Mishra joined the BJP on August 17, 2019. Since then, he has often made headlines for his controversial remarks.
In January 2020, he compared the Delhi elections to an “India vs Pakistan” match, leading to a 48-hour campaign ban by the Election Commission.
His comments during the North East Delhi riots in February 2020 were widely criticised. Many accused him of delivering hate speeches that allegedly fueled the violence.
In August 2023, Mishra was appointed as the Vice President of the Delhi BJP.
Quick Facts about Kapil Mishra
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kapil Mishra |
| Born | November 13, 1980, Delhi |
| Political Journey | AAP (2015-2019), BJP (Since 2019) |
| Key Position | Vice President, Delhi BJP (2023) |
| Major Controversies | Hate speech, corruption allegations, election ban |
Kapil Mishra’s political journey has been marked by activism, controversies, and major shifts in loyalty. As the BJP candidate for Karawal Nagar, he remains a key figure to watch in the Delhi Assembly elections.
for more updates follow ANN MEDIA on facebook , X , Instagram and Linkedin
