The Hindu : New Delhi News : Chief Minister Sheila plays a jolly good host

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Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008
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New Delhi

Chief Minister Sheila plays a jolly good host

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Polls apart: BJP candidate Vijay Jolly seeks blessings from his rival,Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI: In a gesture that shows up the strength and poise of Indian democracy, the BJP candidate for election to the Delhi Assembly from New Delhi, Vijay Jolly, along with his family went to the residence of his Congress opponent, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, on Tuesday seeking her vote and blessings. And Ms. Dikshit played a gracious host to the family for nearly 45 minutes.

Following the interaction, it was back to politicking for both. Mr. Jolly said while he was personally a great admirer of Ms. Dikshit, he was opposed to her policies and the manner in which she has governed Delhi. Even the New Delhi constituency, which they are fighting over right now, had remained neglected for the past ten years under Congress rule and people here face a lot of problems, he said.

Mr. Jolly, who had gone to the 3, Motilal Nehru Marg residence of Ms. Dikshit with his wife Rashmi and sons Kabir and Rishi, said he told the Chief Minister that there were various problems being faced by government servants living in the staff quarters in New Delhi.

“I had gone to her as a representative of this aggrieved lot. Most of the government flats are in a dilapidated condition, water does not reach the flats situated on the second and third floors, and for buying rations or vegetables worth Rs.10 or 20, the residents have to spend nearly Rs.50 on transport,” he said.

‘Rickshaws removed’

Pointing out that over 20,000 cycle-rickshaws have been removed from the New Delhi area, he lamented that no alternative had been provided in the form of battery buses or similar light modes of transport. Also, there is a dearth of Mother Dairy booths in the area.

As for Delhi Transport Corporation buses which used to be the lifeline for the residents, he said the services had been reduced and become skeletal during the afternoon hours, putting commuters to great inconvenience. Also, he expressed concern at the shortage of staff in the DTC impacting the plying of buses and resulting in lower frequency in New Delhi.

Mr. Jolly said he also raised the issue of preparations for the Commonwealth Games-2010 running behind schedule and brought to the notice of Ms. Dikshit that this had been pointed out by none other than a senior official of the Organising Committee.

Following the meeting, Mr. Jolly expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious from the constituency as Ms. Dikshit had not attended to it properly. “Though her sister Rama Dhawan has been visiting it as a proxy, people are not satisfied with this as their problems persist,” he added.

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