No matter who wins, people want better civic amenities

People were seen discussing civic issues on their way to the polling stations on Sunday. No matter who they were voting for – AAP, BJP or Congress, they all wanted better civic amenities for their respective areas.

“No matter who wins, we just want better civic amenities for our area,” said a group of people outside a polling station in Jhilmil ward under the East Delhi Municipal Corporation on Sunday afternoon.

The civic bypolls are not an usual voting exercise to fill the vacant posts and settle political scores. Rather, municipal elections give people an opportunity to set the tone for better sanitation facilities in the city.

“Which party wins or loses is really not our concern. We are here to vote so that we can get better sanitary conditions in our neighbourhood and a permanent solution to the problem of disposal of the ever increasing garbage,” said Suresh Mehta, a shopowner.
“I think people should take municipal elections and bypolls more seriously as civic issues directly affect our day to day lives,” he added.

The Aam Aadmi Party, also contesting these bypolls, is at the threshold of entering the municipal corporations.

At present, the Bharatiya Janata Party is ruling the three municipalities and the Congress is in the opposition in all the corporations.

Many people said that these civic bypolls become much hyped due to the entry of the AAP.

“Earlier the municipal bypolls used to be an ordinary affair. But ever since AAP fielded its candidates in all the 13 wards going to polls, the whole dynamics of the civic elections changed,” said Savita Vohra, a private firm employee.

Others feel that political parties are using these civic bypolls to settle scores.
“Political parties have made it a prestige issue winning seats in the municipal elections with the Congress party roping in all its senior leaders and former chief ministers to campaign for its candidates in the fray,” said Anil Bhardwaj outside a polling station in Ballimaran ward.

Even the Swaraj Abhiyan, a group formed by the expelled leaders from AAP Yogerndra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, carried out a unique selection process to elect a candidate to contest bypolls from Wazirpur ward. Though backed by Swaraj Abhiyan, Sujata Gupta is contesting from Wazirpur as an independent candidate.

“It’s a much appreciated move to let people decide who should be their representative. It will bring more transparency and will definitely bring in a change in carrying out civic functions by the corporation,” said Ramesh Tiwari, a retired government employee.