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BJP has trusted Anil Vashisht, while Mohd Ishraq Khan is contesting from Congress. Khan is a former AAP MLA who moved to Congress last year. He was AAP’s Seelampur MLA in 2015
In Sudama Puri, falling under West Babarpur, and parts of Subhash Park and New Jaffrabad areas, open drains were an issue. (Nivedita Singh/News18)
The Babarpur assembly in Delhi has never elected a leader three consecutive times. Yet, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has trusted its two-time MLA Gopal Rai for the February 5 battle.
Falling under the North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency and Shahdara district, Babarpur has 2.16 lakh voters — 1.14 lakh men and 1.02 lakh women.
The seat is among the most crucial constituencies for the AAP as it has propped up its Delhi unit chief Rai who has been a cabinet minister since 2015.
Babarpur was a stronghold of the BJP, with the party’s Naresh Gaur elected from the seat in four out of seven elections held since 1993. He was the MLA in 1993, 1998, 2008 and 2013. However, in 2015 and 2020, Rai defeated Gaur.
In 2013, Rai secured 25,723 votes and was third after BJP and Congress. In 2015, he secured 76,179 votes which increased to 84,776 in 2020.
This time, BJP has trusted Anil Vashisht, while Mohd Ishraq Khan is contesting from Congress. Khan is a former AAP MLA who moved to Congress last year. He was AAP’s Seelampur MLA in 2015.
Confident of his victory again, Rai said he is contesting the elections based on the work he and the AAP have done. Claiming he has done “10 times more work than all the previous MPs and MLAs since Independence”, Rai said people will reveal their preference on February 5.
Speaking about his opponents, he said the BJP had sent all its cabinet ministers to campaign in Babarpur, but could not find a candidate from within the constituency.
“In fact, even Congress could not find a candidate for Babarpur and had to bring one from Seelampur. These two parties are showing how, after searching for over a month, they could not find a candidate to stand in Babarpur,” Rai said.
Also a cabinet minister in Delhi government, Rai said people voted him 10 years ago to work in Babarpur and he worked extensively in the constituency.
“Babarpur was once counted among the most backward constituencies in Delhi. It was dominated by divisive politics around Hindu-Muslim issues rather than developmental work… Ten years ago, when I became the MLA of Babarpur, I began by holding Mohalla Sabhas… We started addressing these issues step-by-step, prioritising the most urgent tasks. Slowly but steadily, we succeeded in undertaking work that hadn’t been done since Independence,” he said.
News18 visited the constituency to understand the situation. While roads were in a good condition in almost the entire area, Janta Colony had a different story to tell. The roads of this colony, just meters away from the Jaffrabad metro station, were broken with garbage piled up on the roadside.
Although in a better situation, colonies in Subhash Park and New Jaffrabad were also struggling with lack of cleanliness. Lack of well-maintained parks was also an issue in almost all major areas. Either parks were encroached or were being used as garbage-dumping grounds.
Even though Janta Colony lacked good roads and clean spaces, people were happy with the transformation of the polyclinic into ‘Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic’.
“The Mohalla Clinic has helped us a lot. Children keep getting sick and I can take them to the doctor on my own without my husband missing his work,” said 24-year old Saima who lives near the clinic.
In Jaffrabad Extension, New Jaffrabad, Gorakh Park and DDA Colony, the roads and localities were clean but garbage heaps could be spotted. Also, the drain flowing through these localities was clogged and stinking.
In Sudama Puri, falling under West Babarpur, and parts of Subhash Park and New Jaffrabad areas, open drains were an issue.
“Whenever these drains overflow, filth covers the road. Also, there is fear of small children falling into them,” said Atam Ram from New Jaffrabad.
Somwati from Subhash Park said they are disappointed with the lack of cleaning in the area. “No one comes to sweep the road. The cleanliness you see is because of us. Even if you spot any clean and well-maintained park around this area, it was done by the public,” she said.
A total of eight candidates are in the fray, including one Independent. The seat will go for polls on February 5 and counting of votes will take place on February 8.
