Freebies or development — this Assembly elections, East Delhi is divided

Vineet Kumar Batra, a resident of Delhi Police Apartment in Mayur Vihar 1, which falls under Patparganj constituency, thinks people are not talking about real issues anymore.

Security at a polling station at Jafrabad, Seelampur constituency, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Express Photo: Praveen Khanna)

“This time, all parties are offering freebies… No party is talking about actual issues – encroachment, clean water, pollution and better roads… But I don’t blame them. They (parties) are also offering what the majority of the people want. People of Delhi have

become blind… they want free electricity but not good roads to walk on and clean air to breathe,” he says.

A 19-year-old resident of the society, Tanasvi, who is voting for the first time, adds, “AAP was in power for 10 years and only made fake promises…”

Rakesh Kumar (64), a resident Fine Home Apartments at Mayur Vihar 1, echoed similar sentiments. “Delhi’s condition will improve only when freebies are stopped…”

“The AAP did nothing but indulge in corruption and blamed the Union government for everything. Delhi needs a double engine government this time,” adds M K Joshi (81), a resident of Acharya Niketan.

At AAP strongholds like Trilokpuri and Kondli, too, people are looking for change.

Arvind Sharma, who works as a painter and lives in Trilokpuri, says, “I want development and a good future for my children. There are no jobs… all parties are talking about giving cash doles of Rs 2,100 and Rs 2,500 to women and free electricity. All these things are okay but what about salary hikes… You should instead increase salary of daily wagers and provide jobs…”

People queue-up to vote outside a polling station in Delhi’s Jafrabad, Seelampur constituency, on Wednesday. (Express Photo: Praveen Khanna)

Amarnath, a carpenter from Trilokpuri, says, “AAP is giving subsidised electricity but it is not enough… In the end you want a stable job…”

In Kondli, however, residents hope for AAP’s third term. Himanshu, a 23-year-old student, says, “I voted for Monu (AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar). He has done a lot of work. There are some pending works in the area which I believe he will finish.”

Suresh Kumar, a voter in Kondli, adds, “The BJP had made some good promises but they think about the rich… I only have faith in (Arvind) Kejriwal… I hope he will give us pension after returning to power.”

Haseena, a resident of Trilokpuri, says, “Saving Rs 800 in electricity bills per month and free bus rides are huge when it comes to poor families like us… I believe AAP will be the only party to give cash dole to women.”

For Dharmendra, who works as a driver, corruption allegations against AAP is not an issue.

“At least he (Kejriwal) is helping the poor, instead of filling his pockets only… He does what he says… He is one of us, a common man…”

A few kilometers away, at Laxmi Nagar, Shubham Mishra (28), who works in the finance sector, claims “AAP’s term was over in Delhi”.

“We get polluted water, face pollution and traffic jam… The roads are bad. I have relatives in UP and NCR cities like Ghaziabad and Noida. The Modi government has done a lot of development there.”

People queue-up to vote outside a polling station in Delhi’s Shiv Vihar, on Wednesday. (Express Photo: Praveen Khanna)

Ritika Mishra, a working professional, says, “I am a taxpayer and have the right to expect basic amenities like clean air, water and better roads… but our current government is taking my money and giving it to others.”

Rajni Kapoor (43), a homemaker, adds, “I don’t want Rs 2,100 or Rs 2,500. Provide jobs and better facilities, we will work hard and earn money.”

Muneer Mohammad, a data scientist and a resident of Shaheen Bagh, also seeks change. “I think AAP got the opportunity for 10 years and now someone else should be given a chance…”