A trail of unfulfilled promises and failure to run the Government has led to the Aam Aadmi Party losing its major votebank — the autorickshaw drivers. Upset with the AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation from the post of the Chief Minister of the national Capital and the failure to fulfil the dozens of promises made to them, the autorickshaw drivers have decided not to ‘advertise’ or put on posters of the party in the upcoming lok Sabha elections.
“Unlike in Delhi Assembly election, we would not advertise for the AAP in the coming polls as Kejriwal Government failed to implement any announcements made at a Mahasabha during its 49-day rule,” said Rajendra Soni, general secretary of Delhi Autorickshaw Union which covers a majority of the autorickshaw drivers across Delhi.
Kejriwal had last month announced that Transport department and Traffic Police would not seize autos for minor violations like drivers in not proper dress and that such action will only be taken if a vehicle didn’t have licence, permit and fitness.
“Transport department and Traffic Police still continue to seize autos for minor violations. When we recently reminded Transport and traffic officials about the Government’s order, they said that they have not got any written direction from the government’s side,” Soni added.
During the Delhi Assembly elections, the party drew massive support of autorickshaw drivers who did not hesitate a bit in expressing their blind support for the AAP and Kejriwal. From putting up posters of prominent party leaders and the party election symbol — jhadu, they went to the extent of providing free rides in the Capital in the name of AAP.
Annual revision of auto fares based on inflation, provision for training of drivers by Transport department and issuing of 5,500 NCR permits to them were a few of the promises made by Kejriwal before elections and during his tenure as the Chief Minister. The unfulfilled promises for the welfare of autorickshaw drivers have now made them feel that it was all eyewash.
Mukesh, an auto driver, said that 49 days were enough to issue written order or notification, but the Kejriwal Government didn’t do anything in this regard. “The promise of NCR permits was also not fulfilled. Without Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Governments’ consent, Delhi’s autos cannot ply in Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gurgaon,” he said.
There are nearly 80,000 autorickshaws running in the Capital. The Aam Aadmi Party had acknowledged their role in its electoral success and promised to address their grievances.