Even when most areas of the capital underwent a sea change ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010, fate of Seelampur in northeast Delhi remained unchanged possibly due to ‘out of sight, out of mind’ syndrome. Lack of development has posed a problem for long time Cong MLA and eased way for AAP.
By Nivedita Bhardwaj, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: ‘Lack of development’ will be an understatement for an area comprising a large number of unauthorized colonies, regularized and resettlement colonies, not to mention slums. Water supply issues, perennial choked sewers and garbage/sanitation woes just add to the residents’ problems, most of them living in horrible conditions with narrow, congested lanes.
Dominated by Muslim voters, this is one of the eight seats where the Congress was able to retain its seat in 2013 assembly elections.
Akil Khan, a labour supporter of AAP, claims, earlier he was not aware of AAP’s potential, but its 49-day’s government convinced him and so he is going to vote for AAP.
“Lack of proper schools and education is another challenge for our children,” says Saeed Khan, a resident of Jaffrabad. “Crime rate has increased year on year. There are a large number of mini industries (small manufacturing units run mostly from one-room, two-room establishments) and our children end up working as labour.”
Three schools in the area – all become a huge lake in the monsoon. “They keep telling us ‘there is no land’ for schools, then how come Delhi Metro gets land?” an agitated Khan asks referring to a new metro line under construction in the area.
“Hamare to sapne mein jhadoo jit bhee gaya,” says Mohammad Tehsim, sitting on the chair, as Nur Hasan Mansoori, with peekdaan by his side, looks on in Jaffrabad under Seelampur constituency
He is angry at the incumbent area MLA Congress’ Mateen Ahmad for not doing enough for the constituency. Ahmad has been continuously winning since 1998 on Congress ticket and earlier too. But people complain ‘lack of development’ is hallmark of his last term.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seems to have caught the imagination of the voters here. Mohammad Ansari, brother of AAP’s candidate Haji Ishraque Bhure Khan – who is into the business of making jackets – offers an explanation: “We were the ones who voted for Mateen for 21 years but earlier we didn’t have a choice, now we have.”
Shehnaaz (in burqa) turns around to get photographed as Shamila Begum, with ochre shawl, laughs at her in a narrow lane at Seelampur. While Shehnaaz is ready to try AAP, Shamila says she will stick to Congress.
Asma Rehman, an independent councilor who later joined AAP, has been doing lot of work in the area, people said. Most areas under Seelampur constituency – such as New Usmanpur, Kaithwara, Shashtri Park, Chauhan Nagar, Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Seelampur, New Seelampur and Welcome – fare very poor on civic indices.
While it is overwhelmingly the youngsters who are attracted to AAP, there are elders too who claim they are going to vote for AAP. Sixty-plus Mohammad Tehsim and Mohammad Nur Hasan Mansoori are into the seasonal cotton/quilt and ice business. Relaxing in the shop, with a peekdaan by his side, Mansoori says: “Saari zindagi Congress ko vote diya hai … par iss baar ….(We have voted for Congress all our life … but this time … ” only to be interrupted by Tehsim, “Hamare to sapne mein jhadoo jit bhee gaya (referring to his dream earlier that morning where he saw broom – AAP’s symbol – win).”
A membership drive poster of AIMIM – it has not put up a single candidate in Delhi polls – pasted strategically right below AAP’s poster for Haji Ishraq Khan in Seelampur constituency.
Women, generally not ready to talk that easily in the area, are divided over Congress and AAP. Middle aged Shehnaaz, who writes single name, works from home making parts of jeans pants, says: “Traditionally all Congress voters, my family and I are now going to try jhadoo.”
Shamila Begum, an elderly housewife, calls herself traditional Congress supporter. “I don’t have a problem with Congress. My only complaint is – My bahu says she will vote for AAP.”
A torn AAP poster on a road signboard competes with religious hoardings on the busy Jaffrabad road in Seelampur constituency.
But Shamila’s bahu (daughter-in-law) is not the only youngster to favour AAP. Twenty-something Mohammad Shahnawaz, who works in a local garment factory, says: “We want a change!”
Insha Khan, a beauty consultant, holding her 18 months old daughter, tells: “People here don’t understand, they are not aware … Women are told by their husbands or elders, they vote accordingly. Mateen has done nothing. I am going to vote for AAP.”
AAP’s candidate Haji Ishraque Bhure Khan campaigning in the narrow congested lanes of an unauthorized colony in Seelampur constituency (Pic courtesy: AAP)
Possibly aware of the mood from his constituency, Ahmad told DNA in an interview on January 19, why Muslims should not vote for AAP: “Do they (AAP) have any Muslim in their core committee or a prominent Muslim leader? Have they raised any issue concerned to Muslims? Where were Arvind Kejriwal and his MLAs at the time of Trilokpuri riots? They did not get time to visit victims of Trilokpuri but our leader Rahul Gandhi went there. AAP is utilizing Muslims as a vote bank.”
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