Sisodia may find the going tough against BJP’s Marwah, Cong’s Suri in Jangpura

The Jangpura constituency usually does not get any limelight in the elections but this time with AAP’s prominent face Manish Sisodia contesting from this seat — all the spotlight is now on this place.

Despite being a star candidate for the party, former Deputy CM Sisodia will probably not have his task cut out easy in the elections. The assessment from the ground is that the constituency is heading for a fierce political battle as the elections draw near.

The constituency, which features a mix of upscale areas as well as slums, has become a hotbed of political activity with a turncoat on the BJP’s ticket, a former Mayor, contesting for Congress, and AAP fielding a popular face, Manish Sisodia, who is new to the area. The constituency has a significant presence of Muslims (16.3%) and Punjabis (11.2%).

As the candidates make their final push, the electorate is deeply divided, with each party vying for attention over unresolved local issues such as waterlogging, sewage and poor infrastructure.

While Sisodia has represented Patparganj in the last two elections, this time he has to make inroads into Jangpura, a constituency that features a unique mix of both affluent and marginalised neighbourhoods.

On the other hand, BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah, who has served as an MLA thrice under Congress, and Farhad Suri of the Congress, a well-known person in the constituency for his active engagement with locals, are familiar faces to the residents.

The Jangpura constituency, part of South East Delhi, is home to several prominent areas including Daryaganj, Sarai Kale Khan and Nizamuddin, all of which are grappling with numerous local issues such as damaged roads, waterlogging, dirty water supply, parking woes and sewage problems.

These unresolved concerns have become key talking points among voters, and the candidates are under pressure to address them effectively.

A number of residents are expressing their dissatisfaction with the ruling AAP government.

A 58-year-old shopkeeper from Nizamuddin West shared his frustration with the undelivered promises made by the AAP government. “While Kejriwal promised continuous water supply, the reality is that the water flowing through our taps is black and filled with dirt. It has forced us to buy water purifiers. The trust that the Aam Aadmi had in AAP is now gone,” he said.

The elderly man who is supporting Congress’s Farhad Suri praised the local leader for his hands-on approach to resolving issues in the area. “Farhad Suri is a local guy who is always just a call away. Every time there’s an issue, like a water leak, he’s on his feet, getting things done within an hour or so. If it’s late, he ensures the work is done the next morning,” he added.

Another man, a resident of Darya Ganj, expressed strong support for the Aam Aadmi Party and said the city has seen the best governance in the last one decade. “No doubt, AAP is an honest party. Its welfare policies, especially its groundwork on healthcare and education has been notable,” 26-year-old Munish said.

A 38-year-old woman named Shilpa Kumari had similar views. “See, there are problems in this constituency like at any other place but we do not want any other government except the one which is in power,” she said.

Tawassum, a 32-year-old woman from the area, voiced her concerns over AAP’s actions, particularly the removal of the weekly market. “The AAP removed our weekly market, and now the leaders are promising to work for the poor. But the reality is, no one is actually doing anything. My family has always supported the Congress, and we will continue to support Farhad Suri,” she said while feeding her four-year-old daughter.

Meanwhile, Tarvinder Singh Marwah, despite shifting allegiance to the BJP, is still considered a strong contender due to his past tenure as an MLA. Mehrab, a local resident, expressed a balanced opinion. “While many are unhappy with Marwah’s shift to the BJP, it cannot be denied that he got a lot of work done during his time as an MLA. Even when he wasn’t in power, he distributed about 50 kg of ration to families in the basti,” he said, referring to Marwah’s past efforts.

However, some residents are more sceptical of Marwah’s shift to the BJP. Om Prakash, a resident of Jal Vihar in Lajpat Nagar, said, “Marwah and Suri are both strong contenders, but Marwah’s shift to the BJP might have a negative impact. People are questioning his loyalty, but at the same time, we can’t ignore the work he did in the constituency.”

In contrast, Manish Sisodia is not as well-known in Jangpura, and some residents are less enthusiastic about his candidacy. Chitra, a tuition teacher living near the Salai Kale Khan metro station, criticised AAP for its lack of progress in addressing local issues. “We’ve seen the Congress and AAP governments in Delhi. AAP made promises, but now they’ve turned a blind eye to the area. The sewage and waterlogging issues are still unresolved,” she said. Chitra also questioned AAP’s education policies, saying, “Their schemes are meaningless if they haven’t even built a new school.”

While AAP’s support base still exists, many voters are backing the party because of Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership, rather than Manish Sisodia’s candidacy. Bijendri, an elderly woman shopping for groceries said, “My family supports AAP, but I will vote for Kejriwal, not for the candidate.”

Some residents like Jahul Ansari from Daryaganj, have voiced their displeasure at Sisodia’s decision to contest from a constituency outside his original seat. “Sisodia abandoned his own constituency, and now he is looking to do the same here in Jangpura. It’s time for the BJP to step in,” he said.