Negating the anti-incumbency factor, sitting MP from South Delhi constituency, Ramesh Kumar believes that he will be re-elected from the area in the upcoming lok Sabha elections. While Ramesh highly relies on the charisma of his elder brother and senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, he believes that the ‘disillusionment’ of people from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will work in his favour on April 10. In conversation with Sweta Goswami, the Congress candidate from South Delhi explains why people would vote in his favour this time.
Congress did not perform well in the Delhi Assembly elections, especially in South Delhi. Do you think your party would make a comeback this timeIJ
Our performance was not up to the mark. But that was mainly because people fell into the trap of AAP. All the people living in JJ clusters and unauthorised colonies were influenced by the false promises made by the AAP. We will make a comeback this time because people are now coming back to us. They are regretting their choice of choosing the AAP. Women are waiting with brooms to sweep the AAP this time.
South Delhi is a conglomerate of rural villages, unauthorised colonies and urban villages. What are the issues in the regionIJ
People bring various issues to me. When they complain of broken roads, I mend them. Whenever there is complaint of shortage of water, I have always acted immediately. Water is a major issue. We gave Rs 250 crore to the Haryana Government for giving us our share from the Munak Canal. We were in constant negotiation wit the Haryana Government and the Delhi Jal Board on the issue. Besides, I had also requested the Government to bring water from other States like from the Renuka Dam in Himachal Pradesh.
Your elder brother has always been beside you throughout the campaigning. What role does he play in the entire processIJ
I have helped him throughout. When he fought the elections, I worked with him full time. I visited every corner of the region and have done grass-root level work. It is natural that now when I am contesting, my family members would also help. My brother Sajjan is doing the same.