India, Jan. 30 -- Most seats in east Delhi, home to a large Purvanchali population, tend to follow a predictable trend, with voters rarely allowing new contenders to break into well-established strongholds. This holds true for Patparganj, a constituency that has remained loyal to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) since 2013 despite some close fights.

This time, the contest appears harder to call.

Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, a three-time MLA and one of the AAP's most prominent faces, is not contesting from Patparganj after having won the seat by a hair's breadth in 2020. Instead, the party has fielded civil services coach Avadh Ojha, a political newcomer who joined the AAP only in December.

Ojha faces off against two seasoned f...