It is not freebies but always targeted developmental work with intention to create employment and bringing in overall changes by transforming the existing rooted system and by addressing concerns related to civic services. Combating pollution, providing drinking water, constructing roads and hospitals, laying sewer lines and good transportation are some of the issues, the Government has failed to tackle, Congress candidate and sitting MLA from the Chandni Chowk Alka Lamba said.
In an Interview to The Pioneer, Lamba, who quit AAP in September last year after differences with AAP leadership to join Congress, said "During the Sheila Dixit term as a Chief Minister, people had to pay electricity bill once in every two months. Making everything free is a sign of weak leaders who intend to gain political advantages and by doing so he thinks that people can forget his failure,"
Criticising Delhi CM, she said the condition of roads here is pathetic, no new hospital was constructed in last five years, people are forced to drink dirty water, Delhi has become a gas chamber but nothing was done to address the issues that has been haunting people for years.
Lamba won from the constituency in 2015, defeating Suman Kumar Gupta of the Bharatiya Janata Party by 18,287 votes. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded Parlad Singh Sawhney, a four-term former Congress MLA from the seat.
On whether freebies can impact poll result she said, certainly not as the government has exposed themselves by announcing freebies before election and spending a huge money in subsidy instead of carrying out developmental works that can take the economy further and created new scope of opportunities.
"Our girls do not want to roam in the city taking free bus ticket in Rs 10 but they want a system where overall development is ensured. You can people here and no one will advocate the freebies but they keep saying develop the city and create jobs and they will take care of their electricity and water bills themselves," she said.
The Chandni Chowk constituency comprises of Dariba Kalan, Fateh Puri, Jama Masjid, Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, Khyber Pass, Lal Quila and Yamuna Bridge, Khari Baoli, Darya Ganj, Faiz Bazar, Kinari Bazar, Nai Sarak and Naya Bazar.
When asked about issues of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Shaheen Bagh protest, Lamba attacked the BJP saying that they have nothing to show that is why they are asking votes by dividing people. "Inflation is on all time high. Rtes of vegetables are touching a new height. There are other issues like massive unemployment but the BJP is all busy in cashing by polarizing voters on the basis of religion. This is an example of cheap politics. The BJP leaders should ashamed of them for asking votes on Hindutva. If you do not have anything to show to people you started using students to polarize voters," she added.
Asked whom she considers her strong opponent in the constituency, she said no one is even near me in terms of popularity. "AAP candidate Parlad Sawhney was elected four times from the seat but did nothing to improve the basic facilities in the areas except besmirching the good name of Congress party.BJP is a communal party and seeks votes dividing people on the basis of religion," she added.
Lamba said she is getting an overwhelming response from public and was confident to retain the seat. When asked why star campaigners and party bigwigs like Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi have yet to come in support of their campaign, Lamba said she was asking voters to vote on development work done by her in the area being an MLA in last five years.
AAP candidate Sawhney won the seat consecutively in 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 on Congress ticket. Lamba won in 2015 from the seat on AAP ticket and got 27.39 per cent more vote than that of she got in 2013.