In 2015, the Assembly constituencies of Sultanpur Majra (SC), Deoli (SC) and Ambedkar Nagar (SC) gave the AAP reason to smile by helping it win with the highest margins. But two years later, as the same voters prepare to take their pick on Sunday, the BJP seems to have emerged as a formidable competitor.
Deoli (SC) includes five wards — Dakshinpuri, Tigri, Deoli, Sangam Vihar-A and Sangam Vihar-B. Almost every businessman or resident has an opinion to flaunt, even as houses brandish their political affiliation by putting out flags of contesting parties on balconies and gates.
Dharampal Singh, who voted for the AAP, said that the party had been able to deliver on its promise of water and electricity in the last two years. According to Mr. Singh, the party still enjoys a lot of support, which was evident when Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a rally here on April 17. “A lot of work with respect to sanitation and roads has been pending since years. I feel that if the AAP comes to power in the SDMC, they will be able to continue the good start they have made.”
But this is not to say that the BJP does not enjoy a sizeable following. “The charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be felt at the local level as the party has not given tickets to people who have neglected the area. The AAP is full of promises and impractical ideas,” said Santosh Gupta, a resident of Sangam Vihar-A block.
‘ Blame game must end’
According to residents, a major reason why work remains pending is the continuous blame game between authorities. Durga, a homemaker from Deoli, said that her area had an AAP MLA and a Congress councillor in the SDMC, where the BJP is in power, allowing the buck to be passed around.
In Sultanpur Majra, most people are looking at how political parties are performing at the national level. Ashwini Kaushik, a 31-year-old resident of Sultanpuri-B, said the area councillor, who was a member of the Bahujan Samaj Party, hadn’t been active in the last five years. “We built a park with contribution from residents. No party has done anything in the area. I think we’ll vote for the BJP because the party is doing good for the country. They also think about Hindus,” said Mr. Kaushik.
Residents of Mongolpuri-D, which is currently under the BJP, said they were tired of living in filth. They complained that parks had turned into parking lots while some others had become resting grounds for cows, which belonged to residents of an adjacent colony. “Parties talk about Hindutva and treating cows as gods, but this is how they’re actually treated,” said 42-year-old Rajesh Kumar, a government employee.
Vinod Verma, a 50-year-old resident of Sultanpuri-C who runs a garment shop, said that the candidates did not enjoy any connect with the locals. “Most people identify with the party and not individual candidates,” said Mr. Verma.
‘BJP will build temples’
Munna, a vegetable vendor in Ambedkar Nagar, said, “The BJP will build temples, which is why I will vote for them. Development won’t stop no matter which party comes to power.”
His opinion was seconded by Yash Walia, who runs a shop in the area. “We are traditional BJP voters. It doesn’t matter what other parties say,” said Mr. Walia.
“Which party does actual development work?” asked Badari, a cobbler who moved to Delhi from Madhya Pradesh more than a decade ago. “When I came here, I hoped to be able to feed my family. While that has happened, we haven’t been able to get an assured means of livelihood, or a permanent house or even proper education for our children. No matter which party comes to power, the poor stay where they are. Nothing changes for us,” he said.
Ramesh Chandra, another Ambedkar Nagar resident who works with a travel company, said: “I personally feel that the AAP should be given a chance. We feel they are being cornered. Nobody is against the BJP or the Congress, but let the public get a taste of working with this new party.”
