The Hindu : New Delhi News : Old BJP warhorse faces spirited Congressman

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Old BJP warhorse faces spirited Congressman

Madhur Tankha

Sitting BJP MLA from Janakpuri Jagdish Mukhi brimming with optimism while Deepak Arora banking on delimitation

Congress candidate Deepak Arora.

Leader of Opposition Prof. Jagdish Mukhi.

NEW DELHI: Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly and sitting BJP MLA from Janakpuri Jagdish Mukhi says developmental schemes initiated by him over the years will easily see him through to another “historic” win in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Brimming with optimism, the heavyweight candidate says even though he was favourite to emerge winner this time round too, he was leaving no stone unturned in countering the false propaganda unleashed against him by his rival Congress candidate Deepak Arora.

Stating that love of the people from his constituency can be gauged from the fact that they have elected him for three consecutive terms since 1993, Prof. Mukhi says: “Despite the fact that odds were pitted against me during the past Assembly elections, I emerged triumphant because the residents of Janakpuri have been provided all basic amenities like uninterrupted power and water supply. Then a number of schools and colleges have been opened so that Janakpuri residents don’t have to travel to other places in the city to study.”

Prof. Mukhi is also banking on his personal initiative of providing a top-class medical centre to the area to get elected for the fourth time. “The super-speciality hospital and the work carried out at the Dabri crossing are my other achievements. While canvassing, I am promising foot-over bridges, underground parking and also a Dilli Haat.”

Prof. Mukhi said while a lot of development work has already been carried out in main Janakpuri, the unauthorised colonies added to his constituency have potholes, lack power and water, and do not have sewer lines. “I am promising the electorate that I will provide all basic amenities to these unauthorised colonies within one year of getting elected.

Besides undertaking “door-to-door campaign”, Prof. Mukhi has also initiated an SMS campaign. He is promising development of Mahavir Enclave on the same pattern as Janakpuri and Uttam Nagar. “I want to assure the people of the area that I will resolve the drinking water problems of Mahavir Enclave Part II and Part-III within one month after forming the Government. This problem has been persisting due to neglect in the past 10 years,” he added.

Prof. Mukhi’s challenger Deepak Arora of the Congress, who was unlucky not to get the party ticket in the last Assembly election, said as a result of delimitation he stands to win as a substantial part of Uttam Nagar constituency has been added to Janakpuri.

“The Mahavir Enclave Part-II and Part-III, Sitapuri and Chanakyaplace have also been added to the Jankapuri constituency. As the area used to earlier fall in Outer Delhi, Sajjan Kumar had installed water pipelines but these are now non-functional. The main issues are absence of a sewage system and dispensaries, power cuts for long hours and no one to look into the grievances of the poor and lower income groups in these unauthorised colonies.” Charging that the MLA was virtually inaccessible to the electorate of unauthorised colonies, Mr. Arora said his opponent had not even bothered to look into their woes. “In fact, he has been living outside Janakpuri and only some months ago shifted here.”

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