The residents of north Delhi's posh Model Town constituency applauded the development works done by the ruling AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) in slums but also stressed that more needed to be done on the ground. The AAP seems to have benefited from free electricity and water schemes but it is faced with a stiff challenge to retain the urban voters this time.
The AAP has fielded Akhilesh Pati Tripathi who won the seat in 2015 by securing a whopping 51 per cent of votes by defeating Vivek Garg of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party).
Former AAP MLA from Karawal Nagar seat, Kapil Mishra, has been fielded by the BJP from Model Town. Akansha Ola is contesting on Congress symbol. Tripathi was elected in 2013 and 2015 from the seat and he had polled 54628 votes in 2015, the highest ever by any contesting candidate on this seat so far.
The total voters in this constituency are 1,53,667 and it comprises Mahendru Enclave, Jain Colony, Roop Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Raj Pura, Shakti Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, Gujrawala Town, New Gupta Colony, Kalyan Vihar, Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Rana Pratap Bagh, Sangam Park and Roshanara Garden.
Kanwar Karan Singh of the Congress was elected from Model Town assembly seat in the Delhi assembly for three consecutive terms 1998, 2003 and in 2008.
The voting percentage for the BJP has been constant on this seat as it got on average 31.48 per cent in last five assembly elections. Interestingly, the BJP gained two per cent vote share in 2015 compared to 32 per cent of total votes polled in 2013. BJP got 37 per cent in 1998, 43 in 2003, 41in 2008, 32 in 2013 and 34 in 2015.
AAP's vote share rose from 35 per cent in 2013 to 51 per cent 2015. While Congress' vote share has seen declining in last five assembly elections. It got 52 per cent in 1998, 54 per cent in 2003, 44 in 2008, 29 in 2013 and was reduced to just 11 in 2015.
Shreya Kapur, a first time voter and resident of Model Town- 2 said she will vote on the issue of development and women safety. "Roads here are not repaired for years and we have to face the problem of water logging every year during monsoon," she said.
"The AAP has taken some good steps like free electricity, water and transport but it has definitely benefitted a section of society but not us. We are also not interested in freebies. What we want the government to construct hospitals, develop infrastructure and creating employement opportunity for our youth," said Nitin Bansal, a resident of Mahendru Enclave.
There were many who opposed BJP candidate Kapil Mishra'statement on Shaheen Bagh protest, terming the attempt to polarize votes on the basis of religion.
Vishal Sahni, a businessman and resident of Model Town- 1 said that all the parties are on the same page and I will make up my mind at last time. On the issue of development in the areas, he said "Yes, Tripathi is very sensible MLA and he listen to everyone. But there are many thing need to be done in areas other than slum."