NEW DELHI: Delhi’s political landscape shifts towards Purvanchali voters; AAP, Congress, BJP vie for support, addressing their concerns and demands.
Over the past decade, the Haryanvi-Punjabi dominated politics in Delhi have shifted towards the Purvanchali (eastern) voters, hailing from regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. These Purvanchali migrant voters have become a strong force that can change the political discourse in the national capital.
There was a time when leaders from Punjab and Haryana traditionally held sway, with Jat, Gurjar, and Punjabi local voters playing crucial roles in every election. The first three Chief Ministers of Delhi, Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj, all hailed from Punjab and Haryana backgrounds and rose to prominence in the capital’s politics.
Issues related to Punjab and Haryana dominated the city’s politics for a long time.
But these Purvanchali voters who come to Delhi in search of jobs are approximately 30% of Delhi’s voting population. The political parties are well aware that they have the potential to affect the outcome of the election on all seven seats in the capital.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) have given prominent posts to people belonging to the community. The BJP has prominent singer Manoj Tiwari, who has been the choice of voters in the North East constituency twice in 2014 and 2019, has been fielded by the BJP again to get hold of Purvanchali voters. While Congress has fielded Kanhaiya Kumar, another popular leader hailing from Bihar, against Tiwari, Also, AAP has fielded Mahabal Mishra, a Purvanchali face from the West Delhi constituency. All three parties have given representation to the community, emphasizing their prominence in the political arena.
Priyanka Singh, a local hailing from Sasaram, Bihar, says, “Whether AAP, BJP or Congress, all three parties promised to make unauthorised colonies as authorised, but none did it. AAP talks of its governance model, but we feel cheated. We need proper roads and sewage systems implemented.
Ashutosh, a vegetable hawker, says, “We get rations and even loans through the PM SVANidhi scheme, which make it an easy business for us. Also, Manoj Tiwari has a better understanding of our needs, so we will support him.”
According to the purvanchali locals in Delhi, the fight between Congress and BJP has intensified after the entry of Congress’s Kanhaiya Kumar against the BJP’s Manoj Tiwari. This election is not one-sided. Both candidates have their strengths and weaknesses.
Kanhaiya Kumar is liked among the youth for being a good speaker, while Manoj Tiwari has deep roots in Purvanchal society.