Residents of Okhla, particularly academicians and students of Jamia Millia Islamia, are warmly welcoming scholar and pacifist Rajmohan Gandhi, as the Aam Aadmi Party candidate from the East Delhi constituency has a clean track record and is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.
The enthusiastic response to his gathering here over the weekend seems to suggest that Mr. Gandhi has succeeded in forging a bond with the voters of Okhla, which has a high density of Muslim population.
Wearing a khadi kurta, reminding the voters of his illustrious grandfather, and white Gandhi cap of the AAP, Mr. Gandhi is now generally being seen by the electorate as a panacea for the ills plaguing the area, which includes congested places like the Jamia Nagar where residents live cheek by jowl and roads are difficult for motorists to navigate.
As anguished residents of Jamia Nagar, Abul Fazal Enclave and Shaheen Bagh narrated their woes of not getting potable water and deteriorating living conditions, Mr. Gandhi, who has plunged into the heat and dust of elections in a constituency which covers both sides of the Yamuna, gave them a patient hearing.
Later, he shook hands with quite a few of them before promising to do his best to solve their problems.
Faisal, a local shopkeeper, said Mr. Gandhi is not a rabble-rousing politician who says one thing but does entirely the opposite. “At Okhla we have a number of educated people, particularly professors and teachers, who are happy to have an academician in their midst. The Congress has been promising us a number of things but it has not done anything to make life comfortable for residents of Okhla, particularly those living in unauthorised colonies.”
And as for the 6’ 1” tall scholar-turned-prospective MP’s walk, one local said: “His long strides and brisk walk reminds me of Bapu.”
Later, speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Gandhi was candid enough to admit that he does not have a magic wand to solve all problems that have clearly multiplied due to neglect by the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporations, but he would do his level best.
“If I am elected, I would put pressure on the Delhi Government and also the municipal corporations to provide basic amenities, particularly water. So many water pipes are passing through Okhla but still the residents have to purchase water. The municipal corporation has been ruled by the BJP and at the Centre and in Delhi, the Congress has been ruling.”
Mr. Gandhi, who has had six interactive meetings at Okhla since he filed his nomination papers from the District Election Office at Shastri Nagar here on Thursday, said lack of educational institutions and hospitals were also a cause for worry.
Mr. Gandhi said in the Assembly elections, the AAP did not get support of the majority of electorate but this time round he exuded confidence that the party will come up with a thumping majority.
