Kejriwal has held the New Delhi constituency since the 2013 Assembly elections, when Congress won only 8 of Delhi’s 70 seats.
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Prior to that, Sheila Dikshit won the seat three times—in 2008, but also in 2003 and 1998, before the delimitation exercise, when it was known as the Gole Market constituency.
Both Sarojini Nagar Market and West Kidwai Nagar, where Sandeep Dikshit conducted door-to-door campaigns Wednesday fall under this constituency.
In Delhi’s famous Sarojini Nagar market, people invited him into their shops, not only to greet him but also to show him the conditions of the roads and drains alongside, with garbage strewn everywhere. “Come and see this once. Jitna kaam Sheila ji kar gayin uske baad kuch nahi hua (nothing happened after the work done by Sheila Dikshit),” Parshu Ram said to Sandeep Dikshit. The 45-year-old owns a small crockery shop in the market.
A little ahead, a group of four shopkeepers complained about the facilities missing in the market. One of them said, “Delhi ko sirf sanwarne ki zarurat hai, banane se zayda (It is necessary to beautify Delhi, rather than developing it).”
Speaking to Sandeep Dikshit, they said Sheila Dikshit focused not only on development but also its sustainability. “She was concerned about small businessmen, including vendors, fruit sellers, etc. and did not treat us as a vote bank,” the vendor added, asking not to be named.
50-year-old Leela, who was selling pottery, told Sandeep Dikshit, “When Sheila ji was a chief minister, she used to listen to our complaints. Even complaints of small vendors were heard. Our children were getting work at that time.”
Talking to ThePrint about the area, Sandeep Dikshit said the market “is choking today”.
“Construction work is going on, on all sides. Shopkeepers are worried about traffic jams, lack of connectivity, and also dust from construction work. Kejriwal does not have time to check all this,” he said.
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‘People have decided to teach Kejriwal a lesson’
The 60-year-old claimed that sentiments on the ground show that the people of Delhi have decided to defeat Kejriwal. People, Sandeep Dikshit said, feel that Kejriwal has used them as a vote bank. He made so many promises but did nothing.
He accused Kejriwal of constantly being at odds with the Union government, causing the files for Delhi’s developmental work to get stuck between the two governments. In contrast, he said, “I remember Sheila ji’s files being passed even during (former PM) Atal (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) ji’s era also.”
He recalled one instance when the former PM clashed with Sheila Dikshit when she went to see him at his office. “Her subordinates assumed that the files were going to be stuck, but before leaving, Sheila ji said, ‘Atal ji, aaj chai bhi nahi pilaenge kya’ (will you not even offer us tea today) and suddenly Atal ji started smiling. Later, he signed all the files she brought. So, she knew the tactics to get her work done.”
“She did not start a dharna pradarshan (protest) or release media statements against the PM or L-G (lieutenant governor) if any files were stuck,” he added.
In West Kidwai Nagar, where a large segment of voters are government employees, Sandeep Dikshit sent many of the party workers in his entourage away and advised them not to ring any doorbells more than once.
While waiting outside one door, he told ThePrint, “Government employees don’t like too much crowd and band-baaja. So I am keeping the campaign low-key here.”
When the door opened, he introduced himself as the Congress candidate to the resident, an IFS officer. “Mai Sandeep Dikshit hoon, Congress candidate hoon, mai New Delhi se chunav lad raha hoon. Sorry for disturbing you.”
The officer said he was a big fan of Sheila Dikshit and added, “We saw you in the newspaper today.”
In the same lane, some youngsters were watching Sandeep Dikshit but, unable to recognise him, said, “Rahul Gandhi waale aaee hain vote maangne.” (people from Rahul Gandhi’s side have come to ask for votes.)
Active in politics since 2004
As part of the campaign, Sandeep Dikshit distributed a pamphlet with his biodata, including his education and research work, and a picture of him and his mother. He has a Master’s degree in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and a post-graduate diploma in rural management from the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA).
The pamphlet also talked about his work. He entered politics in 2004 and since then, has been an active member of Congress. He was a Member of Parliament from East Delhi between 2004 to 2014.
When asked why he was not talking much about Congress’s guarantees in his campaign that day, Sandeep Dikshit said, “Wherever it is required, I do, but at present, we are campaigning among government employees. They want to listen to the developmental work and the candidate’s vision. They do not focus much on freebies.”
In total, Congress has announced five guarantees that include 300 units of free power, subsidised LPG cylinders, a monthly stipend for educated unemployed youth as well as women, and health insurance. “Every area has a different sentiment. If I were to visit any gathering of women, I would definitely talk about our guarantee programme for women.”
‘AAP needs to be exposed’
Criticising the ruling party for its past work in Delhi, Dikshit said, “It is necessary to expose AAP.”
He dismissed its claims that it had done “revolutionary work in the 12th pass percentage”.
When Sheila Dikshit’s government lost in Delhi, there were 16.40 lakh students in Delhi government schools. Today, there are 17 to 18 lakh children. If enrolment had increased at the pace that the government said, today there would have been 22 to 23 lakh children—which means there are 4-5 lakh students less in our government schools, he said.
“The pace of progress during Sheila Dikshit’s tenure was much faster than the work done under the Kejriwal government,” he said.
Sandeep Dikshit also took a dig at AAP’s campaign posters, where, he said, Sheila Dikshit’s photo was missing. “Every school, college, and hospital is testimony to her. Her legacy does not require a photo. She did not believe too much in marketing.”
When asked why the party chose him against Kejriwal, he said, “I was vocal against Kejriwal since the beginning. I never hesitate to speak the truth. So, maybe, the party realised this and decided to give me a ticket against him.”
He also said, “Kejriwal’s attacks on my mother were more than political. He made personal allegations but was not able to prove them in 11 years.”
Kejriwal had accused Sheila Dikshit of corruption.
“Now, the public wants to remove him from power. Delhi waale want Sheila ji wali Delhi,” Sandeep Dikshit said.
Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for 5 February with the results on 8 February.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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