NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament from South Delhi, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, and Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan on Saturday claimed that the outcome of the Subhash Nagar municipal by-election on Sunday would mark the beginning of the downfall of the Sheila Dikshit Government in Delhi and end of Congress rule in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

In a joint statement, they said the deteriorating power and water situation in the city, the choked sewers and the spiralling prices of essential commodities had become a big issue in the run-up to the election and people were waiting for an opportunity to teach the Congress party and its Government a lesson. Accusing the Sheila Dikshit Government of having done little to redress the grievances of the people, Mr. Malhotra said despite privatisation and tall claims by the authorities, the situation on the ground remained very poor with consumers being taken for a ride by the private power companies who refuse to mend their ways.

The two leaders said the Congress Government in Delhi had broken all records of corruption and not a single decision was influenced by people's interest. Coupled with this, the demolition and sealing drive initiated due to the wrong policies of the Congress Government had badly affected lakhs of families. "The Supreme Court has also made its intention clear by coming down harshly on the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006. Now a new fear has gripped the people of Delhi that the bulldozers may once again make an appearance in various parts of the Capital."

Mr. Malhotra said the by-election would be an indication of growing public anger against the Dikshit Government and the party. Referring to the privatisation of power, he said all assurances given at the time of privatisation had proved to be hollow.

"What is even more shameful is that even after being indicted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and by the Public Accounts Committee headed by the senior Congress MLA S.C. Vats no probe had been initiated to expose the truth and unearth the scam behind privatisation."

Fast running electricity metres, inflated bills and prolonged power cuts had become a bane for lakhs of consumers, they charged.

The situation was no different on the water front also with large parts of Delhi faced with a shortage.

"The Congress Government has been making false promises to the people about arrival of drinking water from the Sonia Vihar plant but no such thing has happened. Contaminated and stinking water was being supplied to consumers across the city and the party will have to pay a heavy price for such indifferent attitude towards the needs of the people at large."

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