old issues dominate Delhi elections

2003 ASSEMBLY POLLS

Amitabh Shukla

New Delhi

There are no burning or pressing issues in the forthcoming assembly elections. For both the two main rivals - Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - beating around the bush and digging out old issues is the only mantra for success. While some of the issues are common to both the parties, on others they have contradictory claims.

Regularisation of unauthorised colonies: Both parties are for regularisation. However, the Congress is insisting that the scheme for regularisation should be the one formulated during the Prime Ministership of Indira Gandhi. They have demanded that no development fee be charged from those whose colonies are to be regularised. However, the plan formulated by the Urban Development Ministry proposes to levy a small sum for regularisation. The issue hangs in balance and nothing has been done.

Statehood: Congress is opposed to the statehood plan of the central government. The party wants a complete control on the affairs of the state on the pattern of states like UP, Bihar or Maharashtra. It wants the Delhi Police also in the new state. The Home Ministry, however, has delinked police from the statehood bill leading to impasse.

Delhi Metro: Though only a small section between Shahdara and Tri Nagar has been opened for traffic, both the parties are laying their claims to it and want to make it a poll issue. As the Metro is under the join venture of the state government and the Centre, the rival claim is likely to neutralise the issue.

Building of flyovers: The BJP is claiming that the building of flyovers all over Delhi was conceptualised during its regime (1993-98). It shows newspaper reports and plans of the various agencies constructing flyovers to buttress its point. The Congress rubbishes the claim and is saying that it was their brainchild.

Opening of new schools, hospitals and colleges: The BJP will make it a major poll issue. The party leaders allege that in the last five years, no new schools, hospitals or colleges were opened in Delhi though the population increased by leaps and bounds. The Congress has little answer to the charges though they cite figures to claim that they were indeed built.

Shortage of milk, prices of onions and outbreak of dengue: The BJP blames the Congress on these fronts. They allege that the Congress is squarely responsible for shortage of milk, increase in the prices of onions and vegetables and the outbreak of dengue. The party is keenly watching the develoments and if the situations worsens, it would make it a poll plank. The Congress on the other hand claims that the situation in under control and things would improve in a few days.

Good governance : This is the main plank of the ruling Congress. The party says that they would project the achievements of the Sheila Dikshit government to get votes and appeal for another terms for the party. They cite the ratings of the Chief Minister and claim that Delhi is one of the best governed states of the country. BJP has countered the Congress claim saying no developmental activity has been carried out.

Condition of roads: The BJP says that the condition of roads in Delhi had never been so bad in the last 50 years. They say that potholes and stagnating water was all around the Capital. The Congress, on the other hand, points out to the good monsoons and says that it was the “work of nature” and things improved as soon as the monsoons ended.

Privatisation of Power: The BJP has smelt a rat in the entire episode and has repeatedly alleged that underhand dealings took place in the process of privatisation. The party alleges a scam of crores. The Congress says that privatisation has improved the power situation in the Capital and claims that scam is a figment of imagination of the BJP leaders.

Water shortage: The BJP has raised the issue for the last six months. They say that the people of Delhi are thirsty and nothing is being done. The Congress in turn blames Haryana for the water shortage. The party claims that its government had cleared the Sonia Vihar project which would immensely help Delhi overcome the water shortage.

Bhagidari scheme: The interaction between the government and the people is being cited by the Congress as a major achievement and as a poll plank. The party says that for the first time, the people had a responsive government. The BJP counters it by saying that bhagidari scheme was implemented only with the “privileged Delhiites and the moneyed sections” and not with the majority of people who are underprivileged and living in the JJ and resettlement colonies. (2003)