The Hindu : New Delhi News : A clash of veterans in Tri Nagar

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Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008
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A clash of veterans in Tri Nagar

Devesh K. Pandey

Sitting Congress MLA confident of support from newly added areas

NEW DELHI: The Tri Nagar constituency that comprises a mixed population will witness a contest between sitting Congress MLA Anil Bhardwaj and former two-time BJP MLA Nand Kishore Garg in the upcoming Delhi Assembly election on Saturday.

Mr. Bhardwaj, who was the Indian Youth Congress general secretary, was fielded against Mr.Garg in the last Assembly election in 2003 and won by a huge margin. According to him, he won because of non-performance by his opponent. “In the past five years, I have done a lot of work for the overall development of the area, and the residents are feeling the difference. I have got chaupals made for different communities, got parks beautified and roads reconstructed,” he said, adding that delimitation had also helped create a favourable atmosphere for him.

According to his staunch supporters, the Congress candidate’s efforts have resulted in approval for a 200-bed hospital project at Keshavpuram. They say he got an under-bridge constructed at Prem Bari Pul and was also instrumental in construction of the Britannia Chowk flyover, a school in Shakurpur village and a transport depot.

The Congress candidate is confident of getting the support of a large number of voters living in the newly added areas. Following delimitation, the constituency consists of 55 per cent of the old Tri Nagar and 45 per cent of old Shakur Basti. “Three of the four Municipal Corporation seats are with us,” he says, adding that his opponent Mr. Garg had lost the election to him last time because he had lost touch with the electorate: “He neither lived here nor had an office in the constituency for meeting people.”

Mr. Bhardwaj said although the constituency comprised a sizeable number of Schedule Caste voters, most of them hail from Tamil Nadu where the Bahujan Samaj Party does not have much of a presence.

For his part, Mr. Garg says no major development work has been undertaken during the tenure of the sitting MLA, due to which there is “an anti-incumbency wave” in the constituency. “People want change as the Congress MLA is unable to meet their expectations,” he says, adding that he is raising the issue of water and electricity.

“Water pipelines have been laid alongside sewer lines at several places because of which dirty water is being supplied to homes. Fast-running power meters have been installed and residents are receiving huge bills. If elected, I will get the meters tested and ensure that the extra money paid by the people is refunded to them,” he says.

Mr. Garg, who used to visit the Delhi Assembly to watch the proceedings even when he was not an MLA, is trying to woo the voters by promising to open new hospitals, schools and colleges. According to him, another factor in his favour is the presence of Congress rebels in the fray. One of them is Puranmal Goyal, who is now contesting on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. Supporters of the veteran BJP leader say although the Congress had been claiming that addition of new areas because of delimitation would go in its favour as they housed mostly jhuggi clusters, a large number of educated voters living in the 34 colonies which have got added to the constituency would come out in his support.

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