The Hindu : New Delhi News : A nail-biting finish on the cards in Mangolpuri

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A nail-biting finish on the cards in Mangolpuri

Ashok Kumar

Delimitation has changed the scenario in the seat retained by Delhi Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan three times in a row

Delhi Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan (left) and his BJP rival Yogesh Attray.

NEW DELHI: As the saffron camp emerges stronger post-delimitation and caste equations go awry with two Jatavs in the fray, the stage is set for a nail-biting finish in the battle of the ballot in the Mangolpuri (SC) Assembly constituency which has been a traditional Congress stronghold.

Mangolpuri, which has been represented by Delhi Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan three times in a row since 1993, retains 64 per cent of its original turf. The Congress has never faced defeat in Mangolpuri, as it comprises re-settlement colonies set up by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

But inclusion of a portion of Rohini and two villages in the constituency has given some hope to the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has fielded Yogesh Attray, a new entrant to Delhi politics, against the Congress heavyweight.

It is not just the anti-incumbency factor that would work against the Congress, even the caste-equations could queer the pitch for the Minister, believes Mr. Attray. “Over 30,000 Jatavs have been traditionally voting for Mr. Chauhan for the past 15 years. But this vote is set to split this time with both the BJP and the BSP fielding Jatavs. Already, two of the four wards in the constituency belong to the BJP and the BSP. The newly-added Rohini South ward belongs to BJP and Mangolpuri East is represented by the BSP,” explained Mr. Ram Kumar, media manager of Mr. Attray.

Confident

Dismissing all talk of caste equations as mere “fancy”, Mr. Chauhan is confident of winning the record fourth term on the development plank. “I have been winning this seat since 1993 and my winning margin has gone up every time. My rivals could not even save their security deposit from being forfeited and this time also they will meet the same fate,” said Mr. Chauhan.

“People will vote for me because of my performance in the last 15 years. I have built a first-ever swimming pool in a resettlement colony at a cost of Rs.2.5 crore and a flyover to tackle the traffic problems. Sodium lights have been installed in the area, a 44 lakh gallon capacity water tank has been constructed to benefit Budh Vihar, Vijay Vihar and areas of Rohini. I have also made a Chhat Ghat at Bapu Park. About 11,000 elderly people and 1000-odd widows get pension in my constituency,” claimed Mr. Chauhan. Besides, several projects such as an Industrial Training Institute, covering of a storm water drain in Mangolpuri and construction of 150 rooms in schools are in pipeline, the Minister added.

On the other hand, Mr. Attray, eyeing the young electorate, has given a call for self-employment and promised to open the first Industrial Training Institute in his constituency on being elected. “Young people have been taking to crime and petty jobs in the absence of vocational institutes in the area. Instead of spending money on education and health, the Minister has been squandering away funds on swimming pools and musical fountains,” alleged Mr. Attray.

‘Major problems’

“Despite having been represented by the legislator of a ruling party and a Cabinet Minister, the Mangolpuri residents have been deprived of basic amenities such as water, power and health services for the last 15 years. Sanitation is a major problem of the area, which is typical of resettlement colonies,” said Mr. Attray, who owns a school and a vocational training institute in the Capital.

“Inflated electricity bills because of fast running electrical meters, massive corruption in issuance of ration cards, poor quality ration and lack of quality educational institutes are the major grievances of the locals. We have promised to replace the faulty meters, provide good quality ration and open 50 colleges in the Capital. The only government hospital in the area, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, does not have enough doctors and medicines. People are forced to go to private health institutes which charge exorbitantly,” added Mr. Attray, who has been associated with the BJP for the past two decades.

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