Garbage woes, waterlogging: Issues yet to be resolved, Gurgaon RWA fields one of its own for Haryana Assembly polls

The anger was even more palpable after an association of homebuyers fielded its own candidate to express dissent against the BJP and Congress.

Sensing anti-incumbency, the BJP has announced fresh candidates in many seats, including all four constituencies in Gurgaon, for the polls. Candidates too have been holding meetings in various residential societies.

BJP candidate from Badshahpur, Rao Narbir Singh, Saturday attended meetings in over 15 societies including Sushant Lok, Ansal Essentia in Sector 67, Emerald Hills in Sector 65, BPTP Park Prime, Raheja Vedanta, M3M Wood Shine, Adani Oyster, among others. He said when he was cabinet minister, no RWA had to worry. “Even by going beyond the rules, I got the problems of RWAs solved on a priority basis. If the people of Badshahpur support me, then I will work separately to solve the problems of every RWA here,” he said.

Congress picked Vardhan Yadav for this constituency. The Congress has picked Vardhan Yadav for this constituency. The wife of incumbent MLA Rakesh Daulatabad, Kumudini, has also thrown her hat in the ring as an independent candidate. Her husband, who died of a cardiac arrest on May 25, had won the seat as an Independent in 2019.

On voters’ minds

In Gurgaon’s Sector 46, which has around 8,000 voters and falls under the Badshahpur constituency, RWA president R K Yadav, who had called for a boycott of the Lok Sabha polls, said the association has perceived a tide of resentment against the sitting government. “We won’t vote for her (Kumudini) as her husband didn’t do anything for us. Earlier, we would openly support the BJP. Later, we called for a boycott during the Lok Sabha polls. This time, we are being openly critical of the party as problems haven’t been resolved. We thought boycotting would send a message, but it didn’t impact any candidate,” said Yadav, “We’ve urged everyone to vote against those who put us in this position.”

He said interior roads of the sector haven’t been paved in 8 years: “The area is clogged after it rains and the garbage problem continues.” Yadav said door-to-door collection by the concessionaire appointed by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram picks up waste every 8 days. “Thirty-eight sanitation workers have been allotted for the Sector, but 17 show up each day with no equipment to clean the area,” he claimed.

Along the Dwarka Expressway, things look grimmer for the BJP with residents complaining of waterlogging, damaged interior roads, and a lack of basic services. “We pay crores as External Development Charges and Infrastructure Development Charges (payable to the government for development of the area surrounding the construction). We have a very short memory, but when we have to face difficulties while stepping out of the society, we will find a way to hold the government accountable,” said Parveen Malik, president, United Association of New Gurugram, an umbrella body of several RWAs having 40,000 voters. The area too falls under the Badshahpur constituency.

“Had everyone voted, the BJP candidate’s margin would not have been as small as this. This time, we have to find another way to make the government answerable,” added Malik.

Housing projects being put on hold is a major complaint among voters. Vice-president of the Federation of Apartment Owners’ Association, Ritu Bhariok, said there are 25 stalled projects each in Badshahpur and Gurgaon and 50 in Sohna.

The association’s president, Sanjay Lal, is contesting as an independent candidate from Gurgaon.

“We have to shuttle between the government and Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). A project is announced and when it nears 80% completion, it is put on hold. Is it up to us to check documents while buying a flat?… we want to send across this message. In Badshahpur, most members will cast NOTA,” said Bhariok.

She said those being impacted are retirees: “They come to the hearings on wheelchairs… some have died fighting. Why should we go to litigation when it’s the government’s failure?”

A homebuyer who invested in Mahira Homes in Sector 68, which was stalled after RERA revoked the licence, said the choice is not between two political parties: “We are victims of politics and we will vote accordingly.”

Congress Haryana MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker is “owner and promoter” of Mahira along with his two sons. In July, as part of a money laundering probe linked to alleged fraud with homebuyers, the Enforcement Directorate seized cash, jewellery and luxury cars in searches at firms “owned and controlled” by Chhoker.

Amidst the complaints, the district administration has a plan to increase voter turnout in urban areas. Over 1,200 RWAs have been roped in to launch a voter awareness campaign. The administration also announced to honour the first three RWAs that do “remarkable work in voter awareness”.

Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav had said 14.9 lakh voters in the district will cast their votes at 1,504 booths. Of these, 126 booths have been set up in high-rises, expected to benefit around 1.5 lakh people.

The Gurgaon Assembly seat has 2.54 lakh voters. Badshahpur, the largest, has 5.2 lakh voters. Pataudi has 2.54 lakh and Sohna 2.86 lakh voters, as per the Election Commission.