Winning New Delhi powerhouse seat this election an uphill battle

Winning the New Delhi constituency, considered as the powerhouse seat that elects the Chief Minister of Delhi, won't be a cake walk for any political party in the forthcoming Assembly polls.

The battle lines have been already drawn. While AAP has fielded its supremo and three-time winner Arvind Kejriwal, the BJP has put weight on Parvesh Verma's shoulders. The grand-old party on the other side, which has drawn a blank consecutively two times, has given the ticket to Sandeep Dikshit.

The New Delhi seat had played a pivotal role in the life of Arvind Kejriwal and his party as he entered into the politics by defeating 3-times CM Sheila Dikshit way back in 2013. Since then Kejriwal has remained unbeatable with rival parties not even coming close to the vote share he gets in the elections.

However, this time, the picture has changed. Mired with back-to-back controversies and battling an anti-incumbency of more than 10 years, even Kejriwal would have to burn midnight oil to hold his ground and remain victorious.

To understand the pulse of the people, The Tribune visited multiple areas of the constituency where it found mixed responses from all sections of society.

The Valmiki Samaj colony, frequently visited by Kejriwal during his campaigns, has varied opinions. While some still extend their support to AAP, others are exploring alternatives.

A 42-year-old woman sanitation worker named Maya from the Harijan Basti, voiced frustration with both the AAP and BJP. "We want employment for which both AAP at state level and BJP at central level have drastically failed. It’s time to give another party, a fourth party, a chance. Neither of these two should come to power," she remarked and continued sweeping the floor.

As this correspondent walked further, a young woman sitting outside her house, looked closely while her hands continued with knitting. While speaking to this newspaper, she expressed her desire to see BJP in power in the city.

"I think the BJP should come to power. Kejriwal’s decision to give monthly allowances to pundits is not good. Why is he handing out freebies when essential services like education are becoming unaffordable? My son is studying at Delhi Technological University, and the fees are exorbitant. Free bus rides for women won’t help with that,” 31-year-old Manisha said.

Another resident of the government quarters, Amrita from Sarojini Nagar, indicated a shift away from AAP. “I used to vote for Kejriwal, but this time, I’m not sure if I trust him anymore. I’ve used the free bus fare, but it doesn’t solve the bigger issues. It’s time for a change, and BJP should get a chance,” she said.

There is also a growing sense of disillusionment, with some voters contemplating NOTA as a viable option. Shobha, a sanitation worker in the AIIMS hospital from Ansari Nagar West, criticized both major parties. “These leaders only bother us during elections. I’ve been working at AIIMS for years, yet I’m not a permanent employee. Despite all the education, there are no jobs for our children. What’s the point of voting for them? I would rather vote for no one. Neither of these parties fulfill their promises.”

In a surprising twist, former Congress voters who had switched to AAP are now reconsidering their support for Kejriwal. Ashok, a resident of Ansari Nagar West, shared, “We were Congress supporters since Indira Gandhi’s time but switched to AAP thinking Kejriwal would bring change. Now, we’ve lost respect for him. He goes back on his promises. We’re returning to Congress.”

Amidst this growing discontent, AAP has claimed that around 5,000 voters in the constituency are being intentionally removed from the voter list, further fueling concerns within the party.

The New Delhi constituency, which falls under the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), has long enjoyed better infrastructure, including reliable water and electricity supply, with issues often resolved quickly through the NDMC. However, one common complaint among residents has been rising electricity bills. Rajesh, a resident of the Valmiki Samaj colony, expressed frustration, stating, “We were promised 200 units of free electricity, but now we are getting bills worth lakhs of rupees.”

Despite the increasing dissatisfaction, AAP still has a loyal voter base in the constituency. Manju, a resident of RK Ashram Marg, defended the party, saying, “A lot has improved since Kejriwal came to power. Free buses for women, free electricity, Mohalla Clinics—these things have made life better in Delhi. That’s why I’ve been supporting AAP since its inception.”