Manyfold rise in traffic snarls in past few years

Good quality drinking water, proper sewerage and adequate parking space have been the long pending demands of the electorate of this constituency in west Delhi which has a population of over 1.33 lakh.

Residents of Rajouri Garden constituency say that the political parties always make tall claims during an election season, but they fail to deliver their promises once the polls get over.

“If you are going to ask us about the problems we face here, our issues are not different than any other part of the city,” said Parminder Singh while reading a Hindi newspaper near a resettlement colony in Khyala.

“Every party knows the problems this constituency is facing but nobody seems to be interested in doing anything about it,” added Singh. “Drinking water and sewerage are two main issues here.”

Locals said over the years the congestion in the area has increased many folds.
“The roads have become so crowded that one is bound to get stuck in a traffic jam in a day,” said Rekha Gupta, resident of Sant Nagar.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Manjinder Singh Sirsa, contesting from Rajouri Garden, said, “We have been highlighting issues like good quality drinking water and sewerage. Parking is another major challenge which the constituency is facing.”

He added that no new hospital was built in the last 20 years here. “We have got it sanctioned,” Sirsa said.

Rajouri Garden constiuency comprises Shyam Nagar, Vishnu Garden, Khyala Village, Narsing Garden, Tagore Garden, Raghubir Nagar, Mukherjee Park Extension, Sant Nagar, Mukh Ram Garden and Mukhra Park Extension.

The constituency in west Delhi was considered a Congress’ stronghold from 1993 – the year the first Assembly elections took place in the area – till 2013.

In the last Assembly elections Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Manjinder Singh Sirsa emerged victorious by defeating the Congress’ Dhanwanti Chandela from Rajouri Garden.

Sirsa has been pitched again from Rajouri Garden on a SAD-BJP ticket. This 43-year-old politician, also the richest candidate contesting the polls, faces a formidable contestant from Aam Aadmi Party – Jarnail Singh.

Singh, 41, came in the spotlight after he hurled a shoe at former Union Minister P Chidambaram on the issue of anti-Sikh riots.

He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from West Delhi constituency on AAP ticket. But lost to BJP’s Parvesh Verma, son of late Sahib Singh Verma – a former Delhi chief minister.

The AAP has fielded Jarnail Singh from Rajouri Garden constituency in polls. Singh, a former journalist, is not only contesting against SAD sitting MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa but also independent candidates with same name Jarnail Singh.

“We are distributing pamphlets and holding meetings to spread awareness among the masses so that they don’t vote for those independent candidates,” Singh said.