BIJWASAN, A Jat dominated constituency in Delhi is all set for a tough contest with reigning Congress banking on the development plank to retain the seat, whereas Bharatiya Janata Party is hoping that anti-incumbency factor along with some local issues will clinch the seat in it's favour.
BJP activists and workers in Bijwasan are upbeat that their candidate Satprakash Rana will win the elections this time as they claim sitting Congress MLA Vijay Singh Lohchab has proved to be a non-performer. They alleged that because of his dismal performance, Lohchab had to surrender around 100 crores meant for constituency development.
Bijwasan was earlier a part of Mahipalpur Constituency. However, after the delimitation exercise it has been declared an independent constituency. Now, it comprises of 10 major villages on the outskirts of Delhi comprising Mahipalpur, Rangpur, Samalkha, Kapashera, Bijwasan, Shahabad, Mohdpur, Bamdoli and two pockets of Vasant Kunj.
Talking to merinews, BJP activist Balraj Rana said, “This constituency has suffered a lot in Congress rule. Lack of sanitation, poor drainage and total neglect of the major villages will prove the undoing of Congress.” He also cited the example of a huge pond in Bijwasan village, which has turned into a cesspool despited repeated pleas of the people.
People in general are not happy as inflation, lack of jobs and poor law and order will also play an important role in boosting BJP's chances, he said, adding “We expect to win with a margin of 5000 to 8000 votes.”
When asked what role the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) could play in Bijwasan constituency, Rana informed that since Jats form the major part of population and other communities are relatively in minority, BSP cannot play spoilsport.
One factor according to the locals, which could go against the sitting Congress MLA in Bamnauli, his own village is the fact that compensation for land to the farmers is still pending. There is a lot of anger amongst the local farmers as their demand of market rate for their land acquired by DDA in Dwarka is still pending with the government.
Another issue raking the brains of voters, said a villager sitting outside a tea-shop in the MLA's village, is the issue of chakbandi of land. “Farmers are unhappy the way the entire chakbandi process was influenced by powerful people,” he said on the condition of anonymity.
Notably, Raj Nagar, a new addition to the Bijwasan constituency has a huge Scheduled Caste population and it could prove to be a surprising packet for both Congress and BJP. A minor swing in SC votes towards the BSP could prove the undoing for Lohchab, the Congress candidate.
In the last elections, Lohchab had defeated Rana by a margin of nearly 5000 votes; Lohchab had polled 30, 230 votes as compared to 25, 272 votes polled by Rana. Dinesh Kumar of BSP had polled 5975.
However, after delimitation, the size of Bijwasan constituency has reduced considerably and BJP claims this will help them in winning the seats. That BJP is on a strong wicket in this constituency also becomes clear from the fact that it has won the four Council seats in the recent elections.
While BJP is no doubt upbeat about its chances, Congress leaders are not ready to give an inch and claim the party will retain the seat. Yogesh Kashyap, president Bijwasan block Congress Committee claimed that the Congress MLA had done enough for the constituency to get re-elected. He said a lot of sanitation and drainage work has been completed in the ten villages of the constituency.
“We also ensured that Mahipalpur is connected to Sonia Vihar for getting potable water and this could prove to be an important issue,” he said.
Whether BJP wins the seats or Congress manages to scamper through will be decided in a month's time. In the meanwhile, the competition between the two rivals is heating up and both sides are geared up for the D-day.
