BJP's Janata Adalat exposes infighting

Mixed response from residents as party reaches out

While the first day of the Delhi BJP’s ambitious plan to reach out to the citizens through Janata Adalats of municipal councillors received mixed response from the residents, it also exposed the infighting in the party.

Sobha Vijendra, Rohini councillor and wife of former Delhi BJP president Vijendra Gupta, came out openly against the incumbent party president Vijay Goel, accusing him of forcing the idea of Janata Adalats on the party councillors.  “I anyway spend 5-6 hours in my constituency meeting people every day. I don’t need to hold such janata adalats. This entire exercise is unnecessary and irrelevant. However, we are just following the party orders,” Vijendra told reporters on Saturday. The Rohini councillor also slammed Vijay Goel for not giving her any post in the party despite the fact that she is a deserving party worker.

Fissures in the party cadre has been widening ever since Vijay Goel took over as Delhi BJP president. Several senior party leaders, MLAs and councillors attended a dinner hosted by BJP national secretary Arti Mehra on Thursday, where Vijay Goel was not invited. 

Meanwhile, a good turnout was reported in the municipal wards that are home to unauthorised colonies, and also several posh colonies. On the other hand only a handful of people came out and registered their complaints. Majority of complaints were related to the poor condition of sanitation, de-silting, damaged roads, poor maintenance of parks and issues like distribution of old age pension, councillors said.

Rajpal Rana, who represents Jharoda in North Corporation, said that over 100 people came to attend the Janata Adalat. “Officials from engineering and sanitation departments were present. Officers present have issued necessary directions to sub-ordinates to resolve the problems. Apart from that, pension cheques were distributed to over 60 people,” said Rana.

In Rajouri Garden ward, represented by Leader of House of South Delhi Municipal Corporation Subhash Arya, only over a dozen people attended the morning meeting of the corporator. In some localities people approached the councillors with the problem related to other agency.

Janakpuri councillor Ashish Sood said majority of complaints in his ward were related to contaminated water and sewer-services provided by Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
“The corporation officials have been directed to test water samples. If the water samples fails the test, officials have been directed to take up the issue with the DJB official,” Sood said.