New Delhi’s King Kaun? 20,000 Balmikis And Their Votes Might Be Decisive On This Excessive-Profile Seat – News18
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This election, the New Delhi seat is witnessing two sons of former Chief Ministers and a former CM himself engaged in a triangular ‘Battle Royale’.
Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Sahib Singh’s son Parvesh Verma and Sheila Dikshit’s son Sandeep Dikshit are the primary contenders in New Delhi. (Picture: News18 & PTI)
The New Delhi Meeting seat is among the largest seats in Delhi by way of space. Nevertheless, that is the second smallest seat by way of vote rely. However in relation to its VVIP stature, no seat comes shut. This election, the seat is witnessing two sons of former Chief Ministers and a former CM himself engaged in a triangular ‘Battle Royale’.
Whereas former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Sahib Singh’s son Parvesh Verma and Sheila Dikshit’s son Sandeep Dikshit are the primary contenders from the AAP, BJP and Congress respectively, there are a complete of 23 contenders making an attempt their luck from the seat. Kejriwal has been an MLA from this seat thrice and that is the fourth time he has filed his nomination.
2 NEW DELHIS — OF OFFICERS & SLUMS
There have been 1,46,000 voters right here in 2020. Now this quantity is round 1,90,000. Many of the authorities workplaces are right here, and most officers reside on this space and have voting rights on this seat. However New Delhi is not only about officers, it has one other aspect — group D workers, and slums.
This distinctive constituency has residences of union ministers, and members of Parliaments whereas housing their assistance on the again of their official residences. Authorities excessive risers like MS flats that home MPs, accommodate their helps within the rear part within the workers quarters. Everybody has a voting proper, which makes them equal throughout elections.
There are additionally a big variety of Different Backward Courses and Scheduled Castes on this meeting seat. The seat additionally has a good variety of voters from the Dhobi group.
Throughout campaigning, each political occasion reaches out to each part of the society. Whereas many MPs don’t have voting rights right here however of their respective constituencies, their workers and their households change into a super catch for events of all hues.
ISSUES FOR NEW DELHI
There is no such thing as a dearth of points in Delhi. However so long as one is in New Delhi, there are primarily three points. But it surely all relies on which New Delhi is one speaking about — Todarmal Highway, Bengali Market, Mathura Highway, Khan Market or Balmiki Mandir, Dhobi Ghat, Employees quarters of MS flats or JJ Clusters at ITO? The residents of the previous might be vocal about air air pollution. Nevertheless, the second you strategy residents of the latter, jobs prime their considerations.
However the roughly 15,000 Dhobis or the washermen of New Delhi usually are not pleased with the AAP given their long-standing complaints have by no means been heard. However Kejriwal realised that it might damage him and introduced, “If our authorities is fashioned, the Delhi authorities will set up a ‘Dhobi Samuday Welfare Board’. The dhobi group doesn’t have a single platform to voice their points.” He additionally promised the youth from the Dhobi group to supply talent coaching for his or her conventional occupation. This appears to have contained the injury, gauging the emotion of Bhurelal, who has been on this occupation for ages, “He appears honest. I’ll give him one other probability.”
THE CAMPAIGN
Although this can be a three-way battle, the marketing campaign has seen a pointy combat between the BJP and the AAP the place a lot is at stake for the AAP Nationwide Convenor. Not like earlier elections, Kejriwal just isn’t joking along with his voters. As an alternative, a rattled AAP has complained in opposition to Parvesh Verma for distributing freebies, which Verma rubbished.
This reporter caught Parvesh Verma catching some breath in between a continuous door-to-door marketing campaign and filling his abdomen with candy potatoes which he purchased from the roadside. “We are going to win simply. Kejriwal will face not simply defeat however a humiliating defeat this time. Individuals are indignant on the extent of corruption he has indulged in,” mentioned Verma whereas brisk strolling. He added that air pollution is a key election situation which the AAP authorities has a lot to reply for in response to him.
Sandeep Dikshit, whose mom Sheila Dikshit used to signify this constituency as soon as and is operating a spirited marketing campaign for Congress, alleged, “Cash is being distributed… each BJP, AAP are concerned on this.” He’s leaning again to his mom’s legacy of the great outdated days when he claims guarantees had been delivered.
X FACTOR
So, the official query is, who has an edge? There may be one X issue that can play an vital function in deciding that — the Balmikis — round 20,000 of them on this constituency scattered round who can affect and change verdicts. On Mandir Marg, there’s a Balmiki Mandir the place this reporter spent an hour with the residents who had been basking within the winter solar.
You ask them who their most popular alternative of occasion is, the primary reply might be Aam Aadmi Get together. However should you spend sufficient time, they may come out of shells. “Kejriwal has not stored his guarantees. We anticipated Rs 1 crore every or a authorities job for the subsequent of kin for Covid-19 deaths. We voted for Kejriwal. Neither he nor his occasion ever regarded again at us,” mentioned Lakshmi. Krishna Das mentioned she receives a pension from the central authorities however will get no assist from the Delhi authorities.
A younger man who refused to be named (as he works for the Delhi authorities) questioned, “Should you can provide vacation on Good Friday and Eid, why not Valmiki Jayanti? Don’t we matter?” Vivek, who’s in his late twenties, however was loitering round on a Thursday afternoon, mentioned joblessness is their greatest disaster for which they maintain Kejriwal equally accountable.
When requested who they voted for, all in unison mentioned, ‘panja’ (hand) — the image of Congress.
Now, who has the sting? Sandip Dikshit is a vital participant on this election who can divide anti-Kejriwal vote. There may be distrust in opposition to the previous Delhi CM and there may be an ‘sufficient is sufficient’ syndrome that has set within the voters of New Delhi given the distinctive social strata they belong to. However Sandip Dikshit could find yourself giving a slim edge to his opponent, with out his needs.
