Maken finishes third, winner calls Congress heavyweight 'outsider'

The residents of Sadar Bazar constituency considered Congress party’s campaign committee chief Ajay Maken as an outsider due to which he finished third with only 16,331 votes, said Som Dutt Sharma of the Aam Aadmi Party. Maken lost to Sharma, who retained the constituency with 67,507 votes.

The locals felt that he would not be seen after the polls like all Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, Sharma told Deccan Herald.

On the other hand, Sharma had gained confidence of the voters by working in the constituency as the former MLA, he argued.

“I was a rookie during the election of 2013, but this time I connected with locals and feel proud that they have not betrayed my trust. I knew the elections were scheduled this year and my hard work has been appreciated,” Sharma said, adding that people of the constituency gave Maken a lukewarm reception, but considered him as one of them – an aam aadmi.

The 37-year-old’s journey began with the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare in 2011. During participation in the movement, he came in contact with many people including Arvind Kejriwal.

“I supported the issues raised by the movement before the central government led by Congress. When AAP was formed I decided to join politics. Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal are my role models and the voice of the common man. I believe BJP and Congress  politicians fight for power and not for people’s cause,” he added.

Sharma agreed that basic amenities are still missing in Sadar Bazar constituency, but blamed it on the 15-year run of the Congress. During the 49-day term of Kejriwal, Sharma claims that he had highlighted how the constituency was ignored and was devoid of development.

“Our government did not have enough time to work on the promises that we made before the elections in 2013. We were also not a majority government due to which many projects did not get the green signal. The scenario will change after we form the government,” he said.

On plans for safety measures for women and Delhi’s image as India’s crime capital, Sharma said that crime had increased in the recent years largely because police focus more towards VIP security than public security.

“Our government will ensure that the ordinary citizen is not ignored. In the past 15 years, the Delhi government gave more attention to the needs of the rich and powerful than those of the common man. It is time for change and for the common man to be the VIP,” he added.

In the elections of December 2013, Sharma had gathered 31 per cent of the votes to defeat Congress party’s Rajesh Jain, the three-time MLA of the constituency.