It seems women in Delhi prefer Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal to BJP’s Kiran Bedi. Speaking to The Pioneer, women from at least 20 constituencies across the national Capital believe more in AAP’s poll plank of bijli-paani than Bedi’s promise for women’s security. He’s also got that blokey way about him that appeals to women.
While male votes were divided between AAP and BJP, women strongly vouched for the former. Especially for housewives, Kejriwal comes across as a “simple family leader” whose promises, they believe, would significantly reduce their monthly household expenditure — a taste of which they got during the AAP’s 49-day Government in Delhi.
Sops like “free lifeline water” of up to 20 kilolitres of water per household and 50 per cent cut in power tariffs are much more “immediate” in nature than the BJP’s poll agenda, which talked about bringing in competition among discoms while also shifting to using lED bulbs to reduce power tariffs and vaguely mentioning about “rationalising water tariffs”.
As per the electoral rolls, a total of 1.33 crore people are eligible to vote in Delhi of which over 59 lakh are women. Out of the 673 candidates in the fray for the Delhi Assembly elections, only 66 are women.
According to 38-year-old Rekha Bishnoi from Kondli, AAP is the only party which has the possibility of fulfilling most of its promises. “We have seen everyone’s Government in Delhi and out of the three (Congress, BJP and AAP), it is the AAP which fulfilled its key promises in just 49 days. Congress did nothing and in BJP, it is as if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the key to all answers.”
Women in constituencies like Kondli, Patparganj, Trilokpuri, RK Puram, New Delhi, Greater Kailash, Malviya Nagar, Sangam Vihar, Ambedkar Nagar, Ballimaran, Matia Mahal, Okhla and Chhatarpur were seen coming out in small groups or with their spouses to vote for the “broom”.
Although almost every woman acknowledged that the former IPS officer is “honest” and has a track record of getting things done, however, they expressed of being more comfortable with Kejriwal and the AAP. “Bedi is a very righteous person and she is hardworking, but would the BJP let her function as she wants to if she becomes the CMIJ” asked Zainab Qureshi of Okhla Assembly segment, who came to vote in Jamia Millia Islamia.
Women voters not only figured high on the parties’ poll manifestos but also at polling booths on Saturday as they turned out in sizeable numbers in most of the constituencies to exercise their franchise. From women in ghunghat (veil) to career women and from college-going girls to the elderly, all were enthusiastic about ‘voting for change’.