Ballimaran, which boasts of housing many heritage buildings, including the haveli where great poet Mirza Ghalib died, forms a major chunk of the Walled City area.
Despite the fact that the entire Capital has undergone many changes over the years in terms of infrastructural growth, this part of the city is still identified with a labyrinth of narrow-dingy lanes and bylanes, old-crumbling dwellings, piles of garbage, overhead power cables, undisciplined hawkers and small eateries. Development here is synonymous to mushrooming unauthorised constructions and intense commercial activities as several old mansions have given way to residential condominiums and small markets constructed illegally. Honking vehicles on clogged roads and people jostling for space in its narrow alleys is a routine affair here.
Congress candidate from Ballimaran Haroon Yusuf has been winning the seat since 1993 but has failed to bring any infrastructural upgradation project for the area. Hence, civic amenities have also been deteriorating. Yusuf, first won the seat in 1993 as a newcomer defeating Vishambar Dutt Sharma with a margin of 2,500 votes. later, he was chosen from the constituency thrice —
1998, 2003 and 2008. However, given the grouses of inflation coupled with anti-incumbency, he may face tough resistance this time.
On the other hand, the BJP has nominated Moti lal Sodhi once again. Sodhi, who belongs to the SC community and is the sitting MlA from erstwhile Ramnagar Assembly segment, is also hopeful of victory. The demography of this Assembly seat has been in favour of the Congress with 38 per cent Muslims votes. Ballimaran has a mixture of Punjabis, Baniyas and Rajasthanis, apart from sizeable SC voters.
“The common man is reeling under inflation and moreover, this time, we want a change. The Congress should not take us for granted”, said Mohd Kamran of Sadar Bazaar area. Majority of the people are disgruntled at the fact that the MlA could not rein in the builder mafia in the area. They say negligence on their representative’s part resulted in mushrooming of unauthorised construction in the area. “He just kept his eyes closed while builders in connivance with police were having a merry time and making money. The entire infrastructure collapsed. He did not even do anything to ensure clean water and proper electricity supply”, said Feroz Anwar of Kucha Pandit area.
Besides development issue, the Aam Aadmi Party and BSP have fielded Muslim candidates, which may increase hurdles for Yusuf. The AAP has given its ticket to Farhana Anjum, while the BSP has chosen Imran Hussain — a sitting councillor who had won the last MCD elections on an lJP ticket.