Delhi elections: Battle for Ballimaran shaping as much as be an in depth combat

There’s a assembly scheduled on the Farash Khana workplace of Haroon Yusuf, Congress candidate for the Ballimaran meeting section (a part of Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency) within the upcoming Delhi elections. Individuals are milling about, the group consisting largely of long-time supporters and native old-timers. However that is no peculiar gathering; it’s supposed to point out the political significance of a candidate who has represented the section for over 20 years.

Yusuf, who was one of many 21 names introduced by the Congress final week for the 80 meeting seats in Delhi, is not any stranger to the political panorama. Having first gained the Delhi meeting election from Ballimaran in 1993, he went on to serve for 22 years, securing victories in 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013.

Nonetheless, his streak got here to an abrupt finish within the 2015 elections, when Aam Aadmi Celebration (AAP) candidate Imran Hussain defeated him by a convincing 43,913 votes. Yusuf solely managed 13.80 per cent of the vote share, whereas Hussain dominated with 59.71 per cent. The BJP’s Shyam Lal Morwal got here in second with 24.30 per cent.

Given the important thing positions Yusuf held in then chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s cupboard — comparable to minister of meals and civil provides, or trade — the 2015 defeat left a scar. Nonetheless, Yusuf stays resolute in his perception that the political tide will shift.

“What has the AAP authorities actually performed?” he asks, his voice agency. “Arvind Kejriwal’s guarantees are nothing however empty phrases. He promised to make Delhi like London or Paris, however take a look at the state of affairs now. It’s worse than some villages,” he says, eyes scanning the room.

He would not cease there, lashing out at his rival, “What has Imran performed for the folks of his constituency? He is a part of the land mafia right here. All of the builders should give him a proportion for any building work within the space.”

The problems plaguing the meeting section, in keeping with Yusuf, run a lot deeper than politics. “Ingesting water is a significant concern. Individuals do not speak about it due to the tanker mafia. The Jal Board water is not drinkable, however their self-financing scheme forces folks to purchase bottled water,” he says, shaking his head.

Yusuf additionally voices considerations concerning the state of colleges within the capital. “AAP has been in energy for 10 years, they usually’ve labored on lower than 29 per cent of the faculties in Delhi. In the event you don’t imagine me, go to colleges in Previous Delhi, South Delhi, East Delhi, Okhla… No work has been performed,” he says, his frustration palpable.

On the difficulty of electrical energy, Yusuf accuses the AAP of deceit. “Their claims about decreasing electrical energy payments are a rip-off. Delhi’s energy is the most costly within the nation. The ability buy adjustment cost has gone up by 6-8 per cent, relying on the DISCOM, and there is now a further 7 per cent pension surcharge. Congress used to provide 100 items free, after which it was Rs 2 per unit. Now, it’s Rs 3 for as much as 200 items, and it shoots as much as Rs 8 per unit if consumption exceeds 1,200 items. It’s all an enormous improve,” he argues.

Yusuf additionally displays on the ability scenario in Delhi, remembering the time when the BJP was in energy. “In 1993, there have been energy cuts for 70-100 hours every week. Mills had been a standard sight in markets, and in houses, folks relied on inverters. By 2004, a survey revealed a 94 per cent discount in generator gross sales as a result of there was regular energy provide,” he recollects.

“Arvind Kejriwal would not perceive the historical past of Delhi. Now we have two colleges of drama within the capital — one is the Nationwide Faculty of Drama, and the opposite is the Kejriwal Faculty of Drama,” he provides with a wry smile.

Yusuf is candid concerning the Congress’ shortcomings too. “We did not do a lot by way of publicity throughout our tenure. Our publicity finances was solely Rs 80 crore, whereas AAP’s is Rs 500 crore. They focus extra on publicity than on precise work,” he underscores, declaring the “unkept guarantees” of AAP, referencing the Punjab authorities’s failure to ship on its promise of Rs 1,000 for women, a pledge but to be fulfilled three years because the authorities got here to energy. “In the meantime, Congress governments in Himachal, Telangana, and Karnataka have honoured their manifesto commitments,” he says.

Yusuf is especially essential of the AAP’s newest guarantees. “Kejriwal promised Rs 2,100 for ladies in Delhi, however his cupboard handed a proposal for less than Rs 1,000 final week. That is Kejriwal’s duplicity. This announcement got here after elections in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the place the Ladli Bahin Yojana was seen as a ‘winnability issue’,” Yusuf says, visibly agitated.

Kejriwal, nevertheless, clarified that the cash would solely be credited to the financial institution accounts of beneficiaries after the election. He additionally added that, in mild of inflation, the federal government would improve the scheme to Rs 2,100 per thirty days following the elections.

A few of Yusuf’s confidence stems from the success of the Delhi Nyay Yatra, held from 8 November to six December, which reinvigorated Congress employees and demonstrated that it might nonetheless entice a crowd. “If all Congress employees come collectively, it gained’t be troublesome to defeat AAP,” Yusuf argues. Kejriwal, too, has been holding padayatras within the capital forward of the ballot, overlaying all 70 meeting segments.

Nonetheless, native resident Mohammed Yunus expressed disappointment on the absence of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, regardless of bulletins that he would attend. “Individuals waited for a very long time, however he didn’t present up, which was actually disappointing,” Yunus mentioned.

Yusuf can be optimistic concerning the prospects of Sandeep Dikshit, son of Sheila Dikshit, who is about to problem none apart from Kejriwal for the New Delhi seat.

As Ballimaran prepares for the upcoming election, the local people is keenly observing the unfolding political drama. “That is the primary robust combat we have seen in ten years,” Ijaz Noor, an area resident, says. “Haroon Yusuf has an opportunity if he works laborious. He’s spent the final three months right here, and the old-timers are with him. However he must win over the youthful crowd.”

Yusuf’s picture stays untarnished by corruption allegations, in opposition to which is Imran Hussain’s extra accessible picture throughout the neighborhood. “Yusuf must reveal that he’s there for the folks,” Noor provides. Clearly, the battle for Ballimaran is shaping as much as be a intently contested one, with each candidates vying for the loyalty of a seemingly sceptical citizens.

In different information, former Lok Sabha MP Jai Prakash Agarwal’s son Mudit Agarwal will contest from Chandni Chowk, Aruna Kumari from Narela, Abhishek Dutt from Kasturba Nagar, and Ragini Nayak from Wazirpur.

Since 2015, Congress has struggled to safe seats within the Delhi meeting elections, having been voted out in 2013 after 15 years in energy beneath Sheila Dikshit’s management.

The announcement of the Congress candidate listing got here amidst hypothesis of a attainable alliance with AAP, which is a part of the INDIA bloc. Nonetheless, each Delhi Congress and AAP leaders have firmly said that no such alliance is on the playing cards for the upcoming election. The AAP has already launched two candidate lists, whereas the BJP is but to announce its listing.

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