Rajouri Garden bypoll is the litmus test for Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as civic elections are just few days away. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who won from this seat in 2013 is the joint candidate of SAD- BJP from this seat. Sirsa who recently defeated former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna from the Punjabi Bagh ward in Delhi Gurdwara polls, is trying to wrest the seat from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). By-poll was ordered by the Election Commission after Jarnail Singh, the AAP MlA from this seat resigned and went to contest from lambi seat against Parkash Singh Badal in the recently held Punjab Assembly polls.
The Pioneer on Sunday visited different wards of Rajouri Garden constituency where people are doomed to live in unhygienic and deplorable conditions especially in Khyala village, Vishnu Garden and some areas of Tagore Garden.
“The by-poll elections are entirely different in nature because Delhi people committed a mistake by voting for the Aam Admi Party in 2015 Assembly polls. Congress leader Meenkshi Chandela is just harping on inconsequential issues,” said Sirsa. “It is sad state of affairs as people have been deprived from basic sanitation and drinking water facilities in Sikh dominated areas,” Sirsa alleged.
“I had implemented Rs 400 crore projects in Rajouri Garnden area when I had won in 2013. If one wants to see the development in Rajouri Garden constituency apart from the posh areas, can visit Madipur village area where I resettled people,” added Sirsa.
With 1,66 lakh voters, Rajouri Garden has 166 polling booths. The voting percentage during the 2015 elections was 60 in this seat.
Sirsa said that they received overwhelming response in the recently held DSGMC elections. “ My team of volunteers are visiting each and every house to educate the people about our work done in the constituency,” he added.
“People are more aware about the old strategies of politicians as the leaders used to introduce problems so that the people come to them for help,” said Sirsa.
Sukhvinder Singh a restaurant owner in Khayala near Mukharji Park, said that people will vote on development model. “We voted Chandela for development but she did nothing.” “Situation becomes bad during rainy season when sewerage water starts overflowing and enters the households. It has been the main cause of various diseases,” said Singh.
Harman Kaur, who runs a boutique in Tagore garden, said that there are several issues that need to be addressed. “We run after politicians to get our works done. The problems get resolved only if you have contacts with the leaders or you have money to grease the palms of the Government servants,” Kaur said who is an AAP supporter.
Sirsa claimed that he will turn Rajouri Garden Assembly constituency into a model seat with all the basic facilities including clean potable water, improved road infrastructure, new sewerage and water supply lines besides implementation of various welfare measures for the elderly and poor. He said that apart from it, he will ensure beautification of all parks of the area, laying of new sewerage lines, construction of new roads and restart and completion of work of covering the old drains.