East Delhi is witnessing an interesting triangular contest between the Aam Aadmi Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, but it seems that the AAP has generated goodwill among the large migrant population, which is strongly backing it.
The entire East Delhi including Vinod Nagar, Shastri Park, Laxmi Nagar and Shakarpur and parts of Seelampur is teeming with a large migrant population, which badly needs a Member of Parliament who can ensure that their unorganised business is protected.
Endorsing AAP candidate Rajmohan Gandhi is important for Rahul Bisht because he and his large extended family run their homes through street vending.
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“Like our family, there are numerous street vendors, who sell economically priced eatables. So a candidate like Mr. Rajmohan Gandhi, who has an incorruptible track record, is seen as a solution to our problems – which primarily pertain to having rights to peddle our goods without having to bribe the police or the civic body staff.”
For the AAP electioneering is all about undertaking padyatras door-to-door, particularly in areas where the lower-middle class resides.
On Friday, Rajmohan Gandhi walked the labyrinthine lanes of the Mandawali area, which has heaps of garbage and open drains. He was warmly greeted by auto-rickshaw drivers, shopkeepers and residents of the area.
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Pradeep, an auto driver, said: “When Kejriwal was the Chief Minister, the police would not harass and fleece us. But now that he is no longer at the helm of affairs, some cops are extorting money from us. Parking is a big issue for all of us because we are not allowed to park anywhere. To check police high-handedness, we want Mr. Gandhi to win.”
Meanwhile, Congress candidate and sitting MP Sandeep Dikshit, dressed in a colourful kurta, is emphasising development in his campaign. The two-time MP believes he would be able to retain much of his 2.41 lakh margin of 2009.
Mr. Dikshit is emphasising the development brought about by the Congress in terms of infrastructural development and the Delhi Metro.
“I want to ameliorate the suffering of the people, particularly those living in these congested parts. The infrastructure is lamentable and I want to improve the condition of roads, sewage, sanitation and water supply.”
Planking on the social work done by him in the constituency over the past two years, BJP candidate Maheish Girri is undertaking road shows.
He is relying on the Modi factor to see him through Trans-yamuna areas where BJP got a significant amount of votes in the December 2013 Assembly elections.