Campaigning in the Rajouri Garden Assembly seat for the upcoming by-election has gathered momentum with the BJP, Congress and ruling Aam Aadmi Party candidates stepping on the gas to woo the voters.
The AAP has fielded Harjit Singh; the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal Badal combine has fielded former MlA Manjinder Singh Sirsa while the Congress has given ticket to Meenakshi Chandeela who had unsuccessfully contested from the seat in 2015. Sirsa too had lost to AAP’s Jarnail Singh in 2015 from this seat.
The whole area of Rajouri Garden is covered with big banners and posters of rival parties with party workers are busy visiting public parks, tea shops and other public places of public gathering besides continuing with the routine campaigning. While the BJP is banking on the impetus that it has received in the recently-held Assembly polls for the five States, the Congress is trying to make its presence felt in the city where it had lost all the 70 seats in 2015 polls.
The AAP also faces the litmus test to win this seat as a defeat in the bypoll would put it on the defensive, that too when the municipal elections are to be held on April 23.
Intensifying its campaigning the Delhi Congress on Wednesday held flash mob performances in different locations of Rajouri Garden constituency as part of election campaigning under the supervision of Delhi Chief Spokesperson Sharmistha Mukherjee.
“Around 30 performances were organised to attract people to spread the message of the Congress. The flash mob performances will be held in all the wards of Delhi and will be a part of campaigning till the last date,” said a senior Congress leader.
This seat is dominated by around 50 per cent population of sikhs and Punjabis. The seat was vacated by AAP’s Jarnail Singh as he was fielded against SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal in the Punjab State polls. Jarnail Singh was defeated by Badal by a big margin. This time, the AAP has fielded a new face, Harjeet Singh, in the sikh-dominated constituency.
The AAP candidate is using Government’s popular scheme Mohalla Clinics initiative and the provision of free diagnostic tests as well free medicines in 37 Government hospitals to attract the voters. These initiatives were lauded by most of the voters. They however wanted more to support any party.
Sirsa is pitching for development and safe drinking water, better sewerage in the area to the inhabitants of Rajouri Garden Assembly seat. He is banking on the popularity of Prime Miniter Narenra Modi and his party’s win in recently held Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) polls.
Rahul Manchanda, resident of A-block and an engineer by profession said, “I am not sure to whom I am going to vote but yes the promises made by AAP has not been kept instead the senior leaders have indulged in attacking on other political parties. The parties need to understand that we do vote for development and societal well-being not for accusing one another after winning.”
Priya Bansal, a resident of T-block, said that she is not decided to support any party right now but I will vote for change.
“I want to see a stable Government in our city not a Government always indulging in blame game politics. We have witnessed of such a politics for long and now want a change. I personally want change in our political system so electing a strong candidate with vision is always good,” she said.
Tanmay Arora, a businessman and a resident of C-block said, “I like the vision of the BJP. The recent decision taken to ban liquor and setting anti Romeo squad in Uttar Pradesh is a welcoming step. I want such initiatives should be taken in Delhi as well.”
“The AAP have done nothing except blaming the centre for everything. We voted for the party in hope but all the expectations now seems to have gone in vain. The AAP came with vision and has lost in routine politics,” he said.
A leader of the AAP who was campaigning in T-block said, “We are holding mass-contact campaign now. All workers have been instructed to undertake an extensive door-to-door campaign while we will be showing Delhi Government achievement in two years and the reforms taken to improve education.
“Voters like the concept of Mohala clinic and want to re-elect AAP candidates from this seat. Our candidate is campaigning along with workers in this constituency and we are getting very positive feedback from the people,” he said.