Interesting contest between three big leaders, water and employment become important issues

New Delhi Assembly seat has always been the center of discussion in Delhi politics. This time the contest on this seat, which has given the Chief Minister six times in seven assembly elections, has become very exciting. There is a triangular contest between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and current Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BJP candidate Pravesh Verma (son of former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma), and Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit (son of former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit).

New Delhi Assembly seat: History at a glance

• Formation: In 1993.
• Sheila Dikshit’s era: Sheila Dikshit held the post of Chief Minister by winning elections thrice from 1998 to 2008.
• Rise of Kejriwal: In 2013, Arvind Kejriwal won this seat by defeating Sheila Dikshit. After this, Kejriwal was victorious from here in 2015 and 2020 also.
• Total voters: 1,45,901 (as on 29 October 2024).
  • Male voters: 79,799.
  • Women voters: 66,101.

Major problems and issues

Issues like water, employment, and traffic jams remain prominent in the New Delhi seat.

• Water problem: Dirty water supply remains a major problem in areas like Pilanji village, Sanjay Basti, and Dayanand Basti.
• Employment: The youth of Valmiki Basti are angry about the lack of employment.
• Jam and Encroachment: The problem of traffic jam in the morning and evening is common due to encroachment at various places in the area.
• Government Employees: The promise of providing jobs to the families of NDMC employees on their death is incomplete.

opinion of local people

KK Gopi (slum dweller):
“Water pipelines have been laid, but the problem of dirty water still persists in many areas.”

Vijaypal Singh (Retired NDMC employee):
“After the death of NDMC personnel, the promise of jobs to the families has not yet been fulfilled. Mohalla clinics are also closed here.”

Mohit and Vipin (youth from Valmiki Basti):
“The biggest issue for us is employment. “Governments keep coming and going, but job opportunities for the youth do not increase.”

Why is the competition special this time?

• Kejriwal’s bet for the third consecutive time: As the current Chief Minister, this election is very important for Kejriwal.
• BJP’s bet: BJP has fielded Pravesh Verma, son of Sahib Singh Verma, who has a strong caste and family background.
• Congress’s challenge: Sandeep Dikshit, Sheila Dikshit’s son, is counting on his mother’s legacy.