Delhi polls: In Patparganj, what do residents think of Manish Sisodia switching seats?
Sisodia has been fielded from Jangpura; Avadh Ojha, a UPSC coaching teacher who joined the party last week, is the Patparganj candidate.
4 min read
“What has he (Sisodia) done to develop this area? Nothing,” said Radhay Shyam, a security guard outside a gated community in Mayur Phase 1.Former deputy chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party’s top leader Manish Sisodia has decided to leave his home turf, Patparganj — a constituency he has won and represented in the last three Delhi Asembly polls.
Instead, he is standing from neighbouring Jangpura. AAP has fielded Avadh Ojha, a UPSC coaching teacher, who joined the party last week, from the seat. On the ground, Sisodia’s move appears pragmatic.
“What has he (Sisodia) done to develop this area? Nothing,” said Radhay Shyam, a security guard outside a gated community in Mayur Phase 1. “The roads are broken, sewers are overflowing, there is no cleanliness, and traffic is a big issue.”
Shyam didn’t know Sisodia decided to switch seats. “Acha? Wo yahan se nahi ladenge… chalo sahi hai, yahan se toh harna tay tha. (Oh, yes. So he is not contesting from here…it’s good. In any case, he would have lost the polls here.”
Situated between the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Noida Link Road, the Patparganj constituency has a mixed population — businessmen, government employees, and a substantial chunk of the working class. Among its 2.3 lakh population, Uttarakhandis comprise 22%, Purvanchalis 15%, Brahmins 15%, Punjabis 12%, Muslims 9%, Gujjars 7%, Vaishyas 8% and Schedule Castes 7%.
A few kilometres ahead, Renu Kumari, who sells earthen pots near Shashi Garden, said the AAP has done a lot for “poor people like us”. “They ensured free education for our children. They have given us free electricity which is a huge help…”
Kumari too was unaware that Sisodia wouldn’t be contesting from the constituency this time. “I believe he (Sisodia) will win wherever he contests this election. People like me will always support the AAP.” She hoped that once AAP wins, they will “start giving us Rs 1,000 a month… they promised this to the women.”
In Peerwali Gali at Patparganj Village, Suraj Kumar drives an auto-rickshaw for a living. He said he is upset because the sitting MLA has been absent all these years. “There is no doubt that the AAP has done good work… they gave free bijli (electricity)… free transport to women. But they also forgot to fulfill their other big promises — roads, water supply, cleanliness…,” he said as he walked through a narrow lane towards the market.
“After winning the polls, he (Sisodia) did not visit the constituency… Except for the Khichdipur school, all other schools in this area are in bad condition. Our mohalla clinics are also not in good shape,” he added.
Near Patparganj village, Rakesh Kumar, who works in a small cafe in Acharya Niketan, is sure Sisodia would have lost the polls here.
“People do not perceive him the same way they did earlier,” he said. “… First, it is because of the liquor scam. He went to jail. Then, there is this issue of inflated electricity bills. I have one AC and my monthly bill used to be Rs 1,500-Rs 2000. This summer, it went up to Rs 4,000 even though I used it only a few hours at night.”
Kumar also raised the condition of the roads in his locality. “Look at the Akshardham flyover and Noida link road, it is broken. Sisodia was the PWD minister before going to jail? We complained many times but this road stretch is yet to be repaired.”
Ashok Kapoor, a retired businessman who lives in Pandav Nagar, said he isn’t happy with Sisodia’s decision. “He could not do much because the BJP did not let him. They put him in jail in a false case…” He said Sisodia was always accessible to the public, especially the poor.
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