NEW DELHI: East Delhi, once Congress’ bastion, is now a BJP stronghold. Harsh Malhotra vs. Kuldeep Kumar, both promising development.
East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, which once was represented by Congress stalwart Sheila Dikshit, has been in the Bhartiya Janta Party’s (BJP’s) fold for the last two terms, 2014 and 2019. The BJP has replaced its incumbent MP Gautam Gambhir and has fielded ground worker Harsh Malhotra from here this time, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded Kuldeep Kumar, an MLA from the Scheduled Caste community of New Kondli in East Delhi. Both parties’ candidates are sharply targeting each other focusing their election campaigns on the developments carried out under their parties’ leadership in the past.
Spread across the Yamuna floodplains, it is one of the most densely populated constituencies. Encompassing densely populated areas such as Seelampur, Shahdara, Gandhi Nagar, and Preet Vihar, this 100% urban electorate, predominantly Hindu (80%) with significant scheduled caste (15.45%) and Muslim (15%) communities, has mirrored the national political mood, swinging between the two major parties over the years.
BJP’s Harsh Malhotra has been focused on raising corruption issues. He says that in the region’s election, our model of development is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and under his leadership, the central government has already provided significant benefits to East Delhi, such as transportation, health insurance, and free rations. The same guarantee I am offering to the residents in this election. Malhotra accuses AAP of being involved in scandals related to liquor, DTC, the Jal Board, and classrooms, claiming that the party is involved in corruption and has nothing to do with development.
In response to these allegations, AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar targeted the BJP by saying that the party, which has been in power at the center for the past ten years, has only deceived the people of East Delhi. “During elections, they secured votes using their big names, but afterward, they never once looked after the area or its people. This time, the public will take their revenge by ensuring a significant victory for the India alliance,” he said.
Aman, a resident of Ghazipur, said a prominent issue in the area remains the removal of garbage from landfills.
“Over the years, the garbage dumped has taken the shape of a mountain. The residents here face a lot of problems due to this, children fall ill due to the toxic gases and fumes coming out of it. In the last Lok Sabha and assembly elections, both the BJP and AAP promised to get rid of this garbage landfill, but no step in that direction has been taken. Both BJP and AAP are in power, one in the center and another in the UT. They are once again promising the same, but we are hopeless now. We have adapted to live with the foul smell,” said Aman.
Both Malhotra and Kuldeep are promising to eliminate this garbage. Kuldeep called himself “son of East Delhi” who has a better understanding of the problem as he has grown here. He assured that in the next 2–3 years he would work to eliminate the site completely, while Malhotra also promised the same.
Malhotra, a law graduate, has also released his manifesto for the East Delhi constituency. In the manifesto, Malhotra promised East Delhi’s future is set for a transformative change as he aims to open a law college in Karkardooma and prioritise a multilevel parking facility at the garments market in Gandhi Nagar.
“I ensure the people of East Delhi that the benefits of PM Modi’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ will be fulfilled by 2029,” Malhotra stated.
He also promised to reconstitute the Trans Yamuna Development Board with the Lieutenant Governor’s intervention within two months post-elections.
Other priorities according to locals include the redevelopment of Kalandar Colony under the ‘Jahan Jhuggi Wahan Makan’ scheme, a monorail, an elevated road, a central government hospital, and the establishment of an East Delhi campus of Delhi University.
The constituency is schedule to vote on May 25.