Hyderabad: A native of Nellore Kanudkuri Sunil Kumar, hailing from the village of BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu, is now contesting against Arvind Kejriwal of Aam Aadmi Party in New Delhi Assembly constituency. Mr Kumar, a B. Tech graduate from Hyderabad JNTU, is contesting as an independent candidate and taken up Telugu and South Indian pride in his campaign.

There are more than 12,000 Telugu voters in the New Delhi constituency. At least 13 candidates filed nominations for New Delhi constituency including Kejriwal of AAP, Kiran Wali of INC, Nupur Sharma of BJP, Ravi Kumar of NCP and Rakesh Kumar of BSP. Five registered political parties Gareeb Aadmi Party, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Naya Daur party, Yuva Shakti Party and Mohammed Siraj Sahil are also contesting.

Three independent candidates including Mr Sunil Kumar are contesting. “I belong to Chavatapalem in Venkatachalam mandal of Nellore district, the native place of BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu. My family moved to Nellore and 15 years ago my dad K. Bala Koteswara Rao took up a job as pay and accounts officer in AP Bhavan in New Delhi. Several Telugu seniors residing in New Delhi approached BJP Congress and AAP for tickets but they were denied. My mother also worked for Delhi Congress as South Cell vice president. Telugu people are not recognised here so I have decided to contest,” he said.