Delhi’s Timarpur constituency appears to be locked into a straight fight between the ruling AAP and the BJP. The AAP has fielded Dilip Pandey — who unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha election from Northeast seat last year — while, the BJP has fielded Surender Singh Bittoo — a Sikh leader who had won this seat on Congress ticket twice.
The AAP is trying to woo voter by doling out more freebies such as — laying new pipelines to provide 24 hours supply of potable water, developing infrastructure for educational institutions and construction of public toilets, whereas, the BJP is not leaving any stone unturned to win this seat as its workers are convincing voters to vote on nationality.
On the other hand, the Congress has fielded Amar Lata Sangwan, local municipal councilor, who is yet to establish her identity among voters. Timarpur is home to Tibetans, Saansi tribe, labourers from UP and Bihar and students who come to Delhi to become part of Indian Bureaucracy. Initial trends indicate, this seat is in for a humdinger of a contest as both the AAP and the BJP are not willing to concede even an inch.
Interestingly, even after elected as a councillor from Timarpur ward , Congress candidate Amar Lata Sangwan is yet not known in this constituency. “You can never reach Sangwan in any circumstances. Whenever you dial her number, it is her husband who picks the call. The condition of all the stretches in our locality is pathetic and all the efforts to reach her are failed. Why would we vote for her,” said Ram Naresh, who resides in the same area.
The residents of Gopalpur Village acclaimed the work done by the Kejriwal Government especially construction of a public toilet in the area and providing uninterrupted water supply after laying new pipelines in the area.
Meena, a resident of Gopalpur Village said she used to search bushes or isolated places for answering nature call that too during her pregnancy but after the Delhi Government constructed public toilet here, life has become easier.
There are many like Meena, who talked about toilet as one of the factor they are going to vote for in upcoming Assembly polls.
“The Kejriwal Government has done good work in some of the sector but still we need an experience leadership in the Capital. Bittu jee has been a good candidate as he is very polite and listen to everyone. The AAP’s sitting MLA has never visited the area after winning the seat.
But during the Congress rule, we could easily visit Bittu’s residence for any problem related to our areas,” Manohar Nishad, a resident of Nehru Vihar said.
The AAP vote share has increased from 35 per cent in 2013 to 51 per cent in 2015. The BJP’s vote share has seen a fluctuating trend as it got 34 per cent in 2015, 32 in 2013, 41 in 2008, 43 in 2003 and 37 in 1998.
While, the Congress vote share has seen declining trend in last five Assembly elections, the party secured 52 per cent in 1998, 54 per cent in 2003, 44 in 2008, 29 in 2013 and reduced to just 11 per cent in 2015.
AAP candidate Harish Khanna who contested the poll in 2013 won the seat and secured 35 per cent of vote share. The party fielded Pankaj Pushkar in 2015 Assembly elections and he managed to win the seat securing 51 per cent share of votes. BJP’s Rajender Gupta had won the seat in 1993 with 51 per cent of vote share. Since then this seat has gone to the Congress for three terms and twice to the AAP.
The voting in the Delhi Assembly Election will be held on February 8 and the counting of votes will take place on February 11.
The last Assembly election in Delhi was held in 2015 in which the AAP won with a thumping majority securing 67 seats out of 70 seats.
