National vs local: In New Delhi constituency, how AAP and BJP are wooing voters

Ten km away, Bansuri Swaraj too has been out since morning on a roadshow. The 40-year-old lawyer has been chosen by the BJP to contest; the party dropped its two-time sitting MP Meenakshi Lekhi. Though this is her first election, Bansuri isn’t new to politics. Her mother Sushma Swaraj was a BJP stalwart and part of the Modi cabinet till her death in 2019.

At Masjid Moth near Ansal Plaza, she steps out of the car. “I don’t want to give a long speech,” she tells a crowd that has assembled around. “… mai seedha mudde ki baat pe aati hoon (I will come straight to the crux of the issue),” she says. “I promise you that if you send me to Parliament, I will be there in your times of happiness and sorrow… I will… do everything to resolve your problems.”

This is the New Delhi constituency, a prestigious seat that is the official home of the Prime Minister, his cabinet, top opposition leaders, and almost the entire top brass of the government.

It is divided into two parts — well-developed gated colonies in areas such as R K Puram, Gole Market, Kidwai Nagar, Sarojini Nagar where a large number of central government employees live; and densely populated unauthorised colonies of Inderpuri, Shadipur, Kotla Mubarakpur, Munirka and slums, JJ clusters in pockets of RK Puram, Naraina and Mandir Marg. It also houses big markets like Sarojini Nagar, Karol Bagh, and Khanna Market as well as a large number of coaching centres in Rajender Nagar.

It is home to a mixed population comprising Baniyas, Jaats, Purvanchalis, Sikhs and people from the Scheduled Caste among others.

Like the constituency, carved out in 1952, the difference between the AAP and BJP’s poll plank here is stark. While BJP seeks votes on “larger issues confronting the nation’s security” and its idea of India, AAP’s focus is local — asking for support to change the day-to-day lives of people through building better roads, drainage systems, and electricity.

In a way, the two candidates perfectly fit their party’s poll pitch. Swaraj is a newcomer, whose main connection to the party is through her family and her “eight years in party structure” especially its legal team in Delhi. Bharti, also a lawyer, is a four-time MLA representing the Malviya Nagar assembly segment in this constituency and is one of AAP’s most visible political faces and popular leaders.

Major issues

On the ground, residents say some of the major problems are shortage of drinking water, traffic jams, open sewers and poor roads.

Mohammad Khurshid, an e-rickshaw driver, says, “There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed in this area… Look at this stretch (Patel Nagar signal, near the Metro), it takes 30-40 minutes to cross one signal… The BJP MP has done nothing in the last 10 years.”

“At least the AAP government is giving some relief by providing electricity subsidy, free bus travel… Hume lagta hai dono AAP aur Congress mil kar Dilli achha chalayenge (We think AAP and Congress will together run Delhi well),” he adds.

Ajay Kumar, a resident of Faridpuri, also an e-rickshaw driver says, “Sushma ji was a great lady but her daughter is just banking on her mother’s name… it’s the third time for BJP and people’s perception has completely changed now… look at the roads and traffic congestion here… our children don’t have jobs.”

Stepping out of his luxury car (SUV) at Patel Nagar market, Pankaj Arora, who lives in the upscale part of Ranjeet Nagar, near East Patel Nagar, emphasises, “Roads are poor, traffic jams and water supply is a big issue but Lok Sabha polls are for national security… Kejriwal and his party are not mature enough for that…”

At Munirka, where Jaat and Gujjars have a major presence, Prashant Pawar, an IT professional, points towards a broken road. “Giving free electricity and bus travel is not enough… you need good roads and enough (public transport) buses as well… there is traffic everywhere here,” he says. “For the Centre, I think the BJP is right…”

Neha Mallick, 28, a graphic designer who lives in Inderpuri Colony says water supply is a major issue in the area: “During summer, there is no water for weeks… Our family of seven has to depend on water tankers.”

Her mother Renu, 50, who works at a mechanic shop in Bahadurgarh, is all praise for the AAP government. “Our water problem has not been solved as yet but I know they (AAP) will resolve it. They have promised us… What has BJP done? BJP is arresting everyone who works for the people. The help that the AAP has extended to us… to poor people, they call it freebies. This is an insult.”

For Kirti Nagar, who lives in R K Puram Sector 1, this is the first election she will cast her vote. “I am confused. I don’t know who to vote for as yet. But I will decide based on the work the government has done till now,” she says.