Last day, last show: What voters predict ahead of Delhi Assembly polls

As Shah’s Jan Sabha at Sagarpur in Dwarka concluded around 5 pm, Kushal Negi (45) was found watching a group of BJP supporters showering flower petals on Parduymn Rajput, the party’s Dwarka candidate.

A native of Uttarakhand, Negi has been living in Sagarpur for last 15 years. He says he came especially because it was the last rally where Shah would address the people. He, however, is not very hopeful of BJP winning the seat. “…even defeating AAP in lower-middle class colonies of Sagarpur would be a challenge (for BJP)… (AAP) will still get votes… People get benefits of free electricity and water,” he says. The urban areas, he adds, are going to BJP “because of the condition of roads”.

Nirmal (45), a vegetable vendor in Sagarpur, says. “For people like me, it doesn’t matter who gets the votes… Nothing changes”. A native of Kolkata, he says he had voted for AAP the last time but didn’t get any benefit from its schemes. “My wife gets to travel for free in buses. That’s it,” he says. “I have to pay rent, pay for electricity and water”.

Amit Shah addresses a rally on the last day of the election campaign in New Delhi on Monday. (Express photo by Abhinav Saha)

Sitting at a tea stall, Mohammad Irshad (25), who works with a tent company, says he will vote for AAP. “I also have to pay for electricity to my landlord. But I will still vote for AAP… At least the (AAP) MLA visits our area.”

Sunil Gupta (47), who lives right opposite the venue of the Shah’s Jan Sabha, says the AAP MLA did bring some changes to Sagarpur. “Ten years ago, direct water supply was unimaginable. We have running water now.”

Kalkaji: Arvind Kejriwal’s roadshow

AAP worker Ritu Narula (47) stands across the road from where Kejriwal concluded his last event. An employee at a jewellery store, she has taken two weeks off to work for AAP’s campaign. “AAP has done a lot of work,” she says.

The road is decked with blue and yellow balloons and festoons. Two vendors, who sell fruit, point to the litter strewn around. “AAP rule has transformed Delhi into a living hell,” one of the vendors says. “The roads are full of potholes and heaps of trash. There has been no development.”

For Sunita (60), who returns home to Govindpuri Extension, AAP is the choice. “She (CM Atishi and Kalkaji MLA) has put up street lights and security cameras… I only get electricity bill worth Rs 1,200-Rs 2,000. Earlier, we used to get bills of Rs 10,000 per month,” says the homemaker. Brijesh Valmiki (36), an auto driver who lives in Begampura, says that because of AAP “our children are getting education in government schools”. “We are with AAP,” he adds.

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal takes part in a roadshow in Kalkaji. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

Kasturba Nagar: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s roadshow

Swarnapriya Jaina, who works as a domestic claims Congress candidate Abhishek Dutt will win. “…AAP may win across Delhi but not here. AAP MLA has done nothing here,” she says, adding that Dutt is the “only one who is being discussed here”.

Gaurav Pathak, a student at Dyal Singh College says, “People sympathise with Congress here… It’s not because of the party but because of the candidate.”

“There is a sizeable Gujjar population in this area, they generally vote for the BJP but this time their votes are divided… Many feel that Dutt is the right choice… He organises Sunderkand and bhandaras to connect with voters. Others are supporting Neeraj Basoya (BJP candidate) while many are loyal to Prateek Gupta (after being denied ticket by BJP, he is now contesting as an Independent),” Pathak adds.