<p>Mundka constituency, largely a cluster of villages dominated by Jat population, is grappling with issues like good quality drinking water, proper sewerage, infrastructure and local transport facilities. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The constituency is headed for a neck and neck battle between the BJP and the Congress these Assembly elections.<br /><br />Former North Corporation Mayor Azad Singh lost the 2013 Delhi Assembly polls to an independent candidate Rambir Shokeen from the constituency, which was the Bharatiya Janata Party’s stronghold.<br /><br />Once again, the BJP has fielded Azad Singh, the brother of late Sahib Singh Verma who was the former Delhi chief minister. <br /><br />Reeta Shokeen, wife of Rambir Shokeen, has entered the fray from the same seat, but on a Congress ticket this time.<br /><br />Azad Singh, a 63-year-old politician who is popularly known as ‘Master’ Azad Singh as he used to be a teacher, is confident that the BJP will retain its traditional seat. <br /><br />While Reeta Shokeen, 34, feels that women in the area will exercise their right to vote in her support. <br /><br />According to reports, Rambir Shokeen had approached the Bharatiya Janata Party first, but later decided to join the Congress.<br /><br />Though Delhi Metro has connected this village-cum-town constituency with the rest of the city, when people get out of the Mundka station, they cannot help but see bad roads and insanitary conditions plaguing the area.<br /><br />But the residents complained that the area has not seen much development in the last couple of years. <br /><br />“There are not enough number of toilets in many jhuggi jhopri clusters in the constituency,” said Sumit Kumar, a local.<br /><br />There is no government hospital in the vicinity. “The nearest accessible government hospital is Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital in Rohini,” he added.<br /><br />The main issue in the constituency is lack of adequate drinking water facility in the constituency. <br /><br />BJP candidate Azad Singh said, “Some areas are facing problem of adequate drinking water. Providing good quality drinking water to every household is the top priority of the party.”<br /><br />But Reeta Shokeen can be heard slamming Singh’s claims. She accused the former North Corporation Mayor of not paying heed to basic amenities.<br /><br />The caste factor will also come into play in the area where the clout of late former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma is hard to ignore. <br /><br />Some residents attribute the development of the area to him. “To a large extent, the development of the area was carried out by Sahib Singhji. But still a lot of work needs to be done,” said Sheela Sangwan, a resident.<br /><br />Mundka comprises 2.38 lakh voters, of which, 27 per cent is Schedules Castes, 20 per cent Jats, 12 per cent Muslims and 17 per cent Other Backward Classes.<br /><br />Though the Metro has made its way to Mundka, residents do not find connectivity in the area up to the mark. They want cheaper modes of transport.<br /><br />“The Metro has definitely been a boon for us but we prefer to travel by bus. There is a need to run more buses to connect Mundka with far-flung parts of the city,” said Ramesh Singh, a local.<br />DH News Service<br /></p>
<p>Mundka constituency, largely a cluster of villages dominated by Jat population, is grappling with issues like good quality drinking water, proper sewerage, infrastructure and local transport facilities. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The constituency is headed for a neck and neck battle between the BJP and the Congress these Assembly elections.<br /><br />Former North Corporation Mayor Azad Singh lost the 2013 Delhi Assembly polls to an independent candidate Rambir Shokeen from the constituency, which was the Bharatiya Janata Party’s stronghold.<br /><br />Once again, the BJP has fielded Azad Singh, the brother of late Sahib Singh Verma who was the former Delhi chief minister. <br /><br />Reeta Shokeen, wife of Rambir Shokeen, has entered the fray from the same seat, but on a Congress ticket this time.<br /><br />Azad Singh, a 63-year-old politician who is popularly known as ‘Master’ Azad Singh as he used to be a teacher, is confident that the BJP will retain its traditional seat. <br /><br />While Reeta Shokeen, 34, feels that women in the area will exercise their right to vote in her support. <br /><br />According to reports, Rambir Shokeen had approached the Bharatiya Janata Party first, but later decided to join the Congress.<br /><br />Though Delhi Metro has connected this village-cum-town constituency with the rest of the city, when people get out of the Mundka station, they cannot help but see bad roads and insanitary conditions plaguing the area.<br /><br />But the residents complained that the area has not seen much development in the last couple of years. <br /><br />“There are not enough number of toilets in many jhuggi jhopri clusters in the constituency,” said Sumit Kumar, a local.<br /><br />There is no government hospital in the vicinity. “The nearest accessible government hospital is Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital in Rohini,” he added.<br /><br />The main issue in the constituency is lack of adequate drinking water facility in the constituency. <br /><br />BJP candidate Azad Singh said, “Some areas are facing problem of adequate drinking water. Providing good quality drinking water to every household is the top priority of the party.”<br /><br />But Reeta Shokeen can be heard slamming Singh’s claims. She accused the former North Corporation Mayor of not paying heed to basic amenities.<br /><br />The caste factor will also come into play in the area where the clout of late former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma is hard to ignore. <br /><br />Some residents attribute the development of the area to him. “To a large extent, the development of the area was carried out by Sahib Singhji. But still a lot of work needs to be done,” said Sheela Sangwan, a resident.<br /><br />Mundka comprises 2.38 lakh voters, of which, 27 per cent is Schedules Castes, 20 per cent Jats, 12 per cent Muslims and 17 per cent Other Backward Classes.<br /><br />Though the Metro has made its way to Mundka, residents do not find connectivity in the area up to the mark. They want cheaper modes of transport.<br /><br />“The Metro has definitely been a boon for us but we prefer to travel by bus. There is a need to run more buses to connect Mundka with far-flung parts of the city,” said Ramesh Singh, a local.<br />DH News Service<br /></p>