In Patparganj on Monday, there were mixed reactions to former deputy chief minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia not contesting from his home turf for next year’s Delhi assembly elections – with the three-time MLA disappointed that he would not win. This time; The other camp expressed confidence that he would win wherever he was.
UPSC coaching teacher Avadh Ojha, who joined the party last week in the field from Jangpura to Sisodia, is the Patparganj candidate.
What has he (Sisodia) done for the development of this region? There is nothing,” said security guard Radheshyam, who is outside the gated community in Mayur Phase 1, “The roads are broken, the drains are full, there is no sanitation, there is a big problem with transportation.
Unknown to Shyam, Sisodia decided to change seats. “Oh? He won’t fight here. (Um, yeah. So he’s not running here…that’s good. Anyway, he’s going to lose the election here.”
Located between the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the Noida Link Road, the Patparganj constituency has a mixed population — traders, government employees, and a large section of the working class. Of its 2.3 lakh population, Uttarakhands constitute 22%, Purvanchalis 15%, Brahmins 15%, Punjabis 12%, Muslims 9%, Gujjars 7%, Vaishyas 8% and Scheduled Castes 7%.
A few kilometers away, near Shashi Garden, Renu Kumari, who sells clay pots, said, ‘You have done a lot for poor people like us. “They ensured free education for our children. They have given us free electricity which is a big help…”
Even Kumari did not know that Sisodia would not contest the election this time. “I believe he (Sisodia) will win wherever he contests. People like me will always support AAP. She hoped that once AAP won, they would “start giving us Rs 1,000 a month … they promised women this.”
In Peerwali Gali of Patparganj village, Suraj Kumar drives an auto rickshaw for a living. He said that he was sad because the incumbent MLA had been absent for a long time. “There is no doubt that they have done good work… they have given free bijli (electricity)… free transport to women. But they have also forgotten to fulfill big promises like roads, water supply, sanitation…,” he said as he walked through a narrow lane towards the market. .
After winning the election, he (Sisodia) did not go to the constituency… Except Khichdipur school, the condition of all other schools in this area is critical. Even our mohalla clinics are not in a good condition,” he added.
Rakesh Kumar Sisodia, who works in a small cafe in Acharya Niketan, near Patparganj village, is sure to lose the election here.
“People don’t understand him like they used to,” he said. “… First, it’s because of the liquor scandal. He went to jail. Then there’s the problem of the rising electricity bills. I have an AC and my monthly bill was Rs 1,500-2,000. Even if I used it only for a few hours at night this summer, it increased to 4,000.
Kumar also raised the condition of roads in his area. “See Akshardham flyover and Noida link road, broken. Was Sisodia PWD minister before going to jail? We have complained many times but this road has not been repaired.”
Ashok Kapoor, a retired businessman living in Pandav Nagar, said he was not happy with Sisodia’s decision. “He could not do much because the BJP did not allow him. They put him in jail on false charges…” He said Sisodia was always accessible to people, especially the poor.