Other States - New Delhi   

Ministers treading a safe path

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI NOV. 29. The five Cabinet Ministers of the Sheila Dikshit Government, who are in the fray for the Assembly polls in Delhi, would be seeking to score a hat trick in these polls. Leaving nothing to chance, these Ministers have toiled hard to reach out to the electorate despite the fact that all of them look to be on a safe wicket in their respective constituencies.

Success had eluded the BJP Ministers in the last Assembly polls when a number of them were humbled badly at the hustings. The Congress would be hoping that history is not repeated but created this time.

Interestingly, heading the pack is the senior Congress leader and Delhi's Finance Minister, Mahinder Singh Saathi, who is contesting his third Assembly election from the Vishnu Garden constituency. Mr. Saathi, a seasoned politician and the longest serving Mayor of Delhi, is pitted against Dayanand Chandela of BJP, who is faced with lack of cooperation from the party cadres. Mr. Chandela, a sitting Councillor, is hoping for an upset this time and along with this Councillor wife, Dhanwanti Chandela, is going all out to woo the voters. However, Mr. Saathi is unperturbed and is confident of making it for the third consecutive time. The 71-year old Mr. Saathi, a veteran of many a political battles, states that he had been getting overwhelming support during his rounds of the constituency. In fact, Mr. Saathi's campaign has got a further boost with the Akali Dal (Sarna) group rallying behind him that could result in en bloc support of the Sikh community who dominate the constituency. Mr. Saathi had defeated Mr. Chandela in the last two Assembly polls with a convincing margin.

Following him closely is another veteran and Delhi's Health Minister, A.K. Walia, who is seeking a third term from the Geeta Colony constituency. Dr. Walia faces journalist-turned-politician, Navin Kumar of BJP and should not have much problem in making it to the Assembly for the third time. The Geeta Colony constituency has been a traditional Congress stronghold and Dr. Walia has nurtured his constituency well during the last decade. "I have been going around the constituency from early morning to late into the night. The day mainly comprises corner meetings and padyatra. The evenings are devoted towards door-to-door contact which is very essential," remarked Dr. Walia who virtually knows people by their first name indicating his rapport with them.

For the Delhi Transport Minister, Ajay Maken, it is not a case of winning the seat but ensuring a landslide victory in his Rajouri Garden constituency. He faces, Sarabjit Singh, anti-Sikh riot victim, who is contesting on a BJP symbol from a seat allotted to the Akali Dal (Badal). Helped by his wife, Radhika Maken, and a band of dedicated supporters, Mr. Maken is leaving no stone unturned in his march to securing a third consecutive term in the Assembly. The young and energetic Mr. Maken's day begins at 5 a.m. and stretches late into the night. Initially, it is the padyatra in the constituency and then holding small corner meetings. Interactions at the personal level and door-to-door contact are also very essential part of the election campaign. The people of the constituency know me very well and are in regular touch with me all the time, he states. In fact, the constituency has earned the distinction of having the maximum number of VIP vehicle numbers indicating the level of openness brought about by the Minister in allotment of such numbers.

Then there is the Delhi Development and Agriculture Minister, Haroon Yusuf, who is again seeking a third term from his Ballimaran constituency in the Walled City. There is hardly any competition for Mr. Yusuf in this Muslim dominated constituency and his position looks quite secure. The case is no different in the case of the Education Minister, Raj Kumar Chauhan, who is safely placed in the Mangolpuri (SC) constituency. Predominantly a Congress stronghold, the constituency has a number of re-settlement colonies which constitute traditional Congress voters. In fact, Mr. Chauhan has also earned praise of his constituents for doing good developmental work in his area. The people of his constituency are also happy over the fact that he was accessible all the time, even after becoming a Minister in the Delhi Government. For the Congress Ministers, the turf looks very comfortable but a surprise cannot be ruled out.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Ministers treading a safe path
• Muslim migration worries Congress
• BJP-Congress trade charges
• New code words now in illicit liquor trade
• BJP spent Rs. 200 crores on campaign: Tytler

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu