It has been a long campaign so far and you have visited almost every constituency. Have you noticed any difference in the public mood compared to previous elections?
Ms. Dikshit: As far as reaction of the people is concerned, I find their enthusiasm to be a part of the campaigning process is palpably more. There is more clarity on the kind of choices they seem to make. They are more participative.
On what issues have people came out in your support?
Ms. Dikshit: When we go to the voters, we talk about our performance so far and our achievements in the past 15 years. We also explain our future plans as well as the misleading claims of our opponents -- be it the BJP or the Aam Aami Party -- are making on power tariff and prices of other essential products. Efforts have been made to explain to the voter why there was a need to hike those tariffs. Food prices in Delhi are high because we are not an agricultural State and have to get our supplies from elsewhere. Having said that, the prices of onion and tomato have been publicised as one of our failures, but in the past few days, there has been a decline in vegetable prices. Inflation in Delhi should not be seen in isolation. Can our opponents name one place or city in the country which is completely untouched by inflation?
Yes, water shortage is a concern in some areas, but 82 per cent of households in the Capital get tapped water.
Some exit polls have predicted good results for both the BJP and the AAP.
Ms. Dikshit: I do not go by exit polls and do not understand the basis on which these are made. Most of these surveys were carried out even when names of the candidates weren’t declared and the party manifestos not announced. At least we do have a certain background and participants can evaluate on our performance but the same cannot be said about the two parties you mentioned.
You have been the face of the Congress-led State government as a symbol of development. To what extent do you think this would help your party sail through and secure a comfortable majority?
Ms. Dikshit: We are looking forward to a comfortable majority and are hopeful of securing it. Our opponents lack issues. Initially, they tried to charge us with corruption but we hit back strongly. When we asked them questions such as which minister has been indicted or gone to jail for acts of corruption, they had no answers. People do understand that it is one thing to talk in the air and another to say something with concrete proofs.
