No interest in urban areas, but BJP upbeat

Gurugram city is an important and much talked about Assembly constituency but there are no signs of pre-election fervour or enthusiasm among voters here. It has over three lakh registered voters and is the only cosmopolitan segment in Haryana that differs from other constituencies in terms of issues, political scenario and even voter turnout. Gurugram had registered one of the lowest turnouts in the last Lok Sabha elections, especially in urban areas. 

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It is the battleground of the most-anticipated fight between two prominent Ahirwal leaders, but the characteristic lack of interest among urban voters keeps them away from polling booths. Psephologists predict the same happening in the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections.

“Be it the Municipal Corporation Gurugram elections, Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha elections, the issues remain the same. The current political system is not capable of dealing with cosmopolitan city issues and thus voters, a majority of them corporate sector employees, do not have faith or interest in the government and elections.  Shockingly, no candidate has ever set a foot in various areas in the last decade, clearly showing that elections are a game of rural voters. The lack of enthusiasm among political parties and voters portends the continuing trend of low voter turnout,” says Runjun Gogoi, a psephologist.

“We face issues such as pollution, traffic chaos, waste disposal, high realty prices and paucity of jobs but none of these have ever find a place in the election manifestos of the parties or in the speeches of politicians. I am living in Gurugram for the last 15 years but no candidate has ever approached us to know about our problems. So, we have nothing to look forward to in the Assembly elections,” says Vikas Khanna, an IT executive living in Sector 52.

“It’s ironic but true that successive state governments have not been able to resolve our issues. So, we know nothing is going to change this time as well. The electricity shortage issue has not been resolved for years and nobody is bothered. Hence, we have no interest in the elections. Though Gurugram has grown into a cosmopolitan city, the profile of residents, and their changed expectations and needs don’t match the priorities of political parties,” adds Ramesh Chawdhary, a resident of Palam Vihar.

The BJP had recorded the highest winning margin in the last Assembly elections in this constituency and is confident of surpassing it this time. Experts support the BJP over its confidence owing to a lack of an  alternative. 

Five-time incumbent MP Rao Inderjit Singh had registered an impressive lead in all Assembly segments of the Gurugram parliamentary constituency. There has been a flurry of activities among local leaders to join the BJP. 

As there is no clarity on senior leaders of the Congress and the INLD contesting the Assembly elections from the constituency, the BJP is expecting to register an impressive victory here again.

Legislatorspeak 

"Obviously, we will fight the elections on the back of development works undertaken in the last five years. The projects, which were pending for decades, have been completed and we have given the city one of the best road infrastructures. We have given people a transparent government. People love us and will vote for us again."—  Umesh Aggarwal, BJP leader

Oppositionspeak 

"The BJP has befooled people. Problems, which were there five years ago, persist even today. They talk about national issues and performance of the Centre, but what has local representatives done in the city? We will address local issues."—  Gaje Kablana, congress

Total voters: 3,45,333

• Sitting MLA: Umesh Aggarwal 
• Likely contenders: Umesh Aggarwal (BJP)
• Gaje Singh Kablana (Congress)

Weak links

1. Waterlogging
2. Poor roads
3. Pollution
4. Unemployment
5. Soaring realty prices
6. High crime rate
7. Regularisation of colonies
8. Provision of infrastructure