Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday filed his nomination as the party candidate from the North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat, where a direct fight is unfolding between him and Congress candidate Kanhaiya Kumar, who is backed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). BJP leader Harsh Malhotra also filed his nomination as the party candidate from the East Delhi seat where he is facing AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar.

After holding an hours-long roadshow accompanied by defence minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi Lok Sabha election in-charge Omprakash Dhankar, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, Tiwari arrived at the office of the North East Delhi district magistrate at 2.30pm and filed the nomination papers.

“I want to thank the people of my Lok Sabha constituency. More than 50,000 people joined the nomination rally to give their blessing,” said Manoj Tiwari after leaving the district magistrate office.

An associate of Kanhaiya Kumar said the date on which he will file his nomination is yet to be finalised.

Tiwari, 53, a post-graduate, declared total moveable assets of ₹10,50,79,037 and total immovable assets of ₹17,52,00,000.