Electricity, water and rising food prices – regular issues that have been on the agenda of almost every political party contesting this year’s polls – have also made it to the politics of the areas under the South Delhi constituency.
“Water scarcity that is there in the city is felt more keenly in my constituency. I will be working towards better water facilities and development if I get elected, these will also be the main issues that my campaigning will be based on,” said BJP candidate from the Bijwasan constituency Satprakash Rana. He blamed the Sheila Dikshit government for the sorry state of affairs in the area.
His sentiments were echoed by his colleague Dharamdev Solanki, who is fighting for the nearby Assembly seat of Palam..
Greater Kailash, an upwardly mobile address, has some unique issues.
“Sewage and traffic are some specific issues that will feature majorly in my election agenda,” said Ajay Malhotra, who the BJP has chosen to contest from there.
Fighting the elections on caste issues, secular credentials and women’s safety cannot be ruled out. Congress candidate Asif Mohammed Khan, contesting for the Okhla seat, said he would be ensuring that there would be no form of discrimination on the basis of religion and that he would rally to dispel preconceived notions or prejudices that people had of certain religions like his.
“Communal forces have to be stopped, and development should be the main agenda of whoever comes to power. These two issues will be advocated by me throughout the campaign. I cannot go from door-to-door since my constituency is too big. The people, however, know me well already since I have been a familiar face in the neighbourhood for many years,” he said, adding that the BJP was a strong opponent but ruling out competition from the Aam Aadmi Party, at least in his area.
The R.K. Puram seat is currently held by the Congress’ Barkha Singh who has been fielded again. The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Shazia Ilmi to fight against her and the BJP has fielded Anil Sharma.
“This seat is where the heinous gang-rape happened and there is a severe lack of women’s safety despite the seat being headed by a woman. General law and order is also high on my agenda as the area needs to be made safe for men and women,” said Shazia Ilmi.
Among many of the candidates spoken to, the BJP listed the Congress as its main competition and vice-versa.
