Delhi polls: On campaign trail with AAP’s Sisodia at Jangpura, an ally from UP

“I’ve travel from acold away…,” she said. “I petition those who speech astir improvement that it’s our work to enactment the Aam Aadmi Party. Manish Sisodia has revolutionised acquisition successful Delhi… AAP has done a batch of improvement successful the past 10 years and has heard the dependable of the poor… acquisition has improved. We request to deliberation astir our children and their future.”

Earlier this week, the Samajwadi Party, a cardinal subordinate of the Opposition INDIA bloc, on with Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), backed AAP implicit the Congress successful the polls.

Local residents, who stepped retired of their houses to conscionable the 2 leaders during their padyatra, flagged 2 superior issues — atrocious roads and overflowing sewers.

They, however, remained divided implicit supporting AAP oregon Congress. Many said they are Congress supporters but volition take AAP this time. Others praised the AAP and said it has worked successful the past 10 years but determination are issues that inactive request to beryllium resolved.

Nizamuddin is portion of the Jangpura Assembly constituency and has 49,332 voters and 66 polling stations. While the BJP has fielded Sardar Tarvinder Singh Marwah, the Congress has picked ex-councillor and erstwhile Mayor Farhad Suri.

In the constrictive lanes of Nizamuddin Basti, Sisodia met wide store proprietor Mohammed Tahir Siddique (62) and told him that “voting for Congress means making BJP triumph and reducing our votes”.

Nodding successful agreement, Siddique, who has tally the wide store since 1989, said helium was a Congress elector for a agelong clip and supported Suri but switched to AAP aft the expansive aged enactment disappointed Nizamuddin Basti. “They (Congress) worked successful Nizamuddin West, which is simply a posh country but did not enactment for the poor.”

Siddique said erstwhile helium met Sisodia, helium complained astir roads being successful a atrocious authorities successful the country and the sealing of respective assemblage areas successful the area.

He besides admitted that Sisodia’s representation has taken a beating owed to the liquor scam accusations but helium did a batch of enactment successful the acquisition assemblage and improved the conditions of schools. “Look astatine the hospitals… they person go truthful better,” helium added.

Kashif Nizami (59), Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah Committee General Secretary and Congress artifact president, admitted that Congress votes from the country person gone to AAP successful the past 10 years but the enactment is reemerging again.

In Jangpura, helium said it is simply a pugnacious combat betwixt the 3 parties. “In Lajpat Nagar, residents are inclined towards BJP owed to enactment done by the RSS members there… successful Bhogal too, determination are a fig of AAP and BJP supporters… present successful Nizamuddin radical volition ballot for Congress,” helium added.

Nizami alleged that AAP has not done immoderate enactment successful the area: “The baraat ghar (wedding hall) wherever mediocre radical would get joined has been closed, sewer lines person not been changed for 10 years and the Monday marketplace was unopen by MCD councillor Sarika Chaudhary.”

Nizami said adjacent the Congress is readying to bring successful a large person to campaign. “I cognize Iqra Hassan ji personally but we volition invitation Rahul ji to the area,” helium added.

Shahrukh Khan (30), a trader surviving successful Nizamuddin Basti, said, “We privation an AAP authorities successful Delhi but we bash not privation the MLA from the enactment due to the fact that they person not done immoderate work.”

“Jo kaam Sheila ji kar gayi wo abhi tak kisi ne nahi kiya (former CM Sheila Dikshit did each the work; aft her, not overmuch enactment has been done successful the area),” helium added.

Azam Khan, a butcher store owner, maintained that portion AAP leaders person been visiting the area, it is Congress that volition win. “Earlier, my shop’s energy measure did not transcend Rs 8,000… now, it is 20,000. Despite repeated requests, cipher looked into my concerns,” helium said.

He besides said the AAP had nary section volunteers from the country till recently, erstwhile it recruited immoderate young boys for the task. “It is Suri and his men who person been listening to our concerns truthful far. He has recruited radical from our localities and has progressive workers.”