If you were to be driving towards Chandigarh from Delhi, chances are you must have noticed the huge mound of garbage located literally by the road side, near Burari. This is Jahangirpuri.
The arrival of the Metro here, has changed things. But the identity of this area still remains the stench of dirt and garbage that surrounds this place. So we start our journey from the Metro station itself. True to what we had thought, right next to the Metro station here is an open garbage centre. Everything is just loosely thrown around here. Well, why not, after all Jahangirpuri is known as the garbage bowl for Delhi!
We ask an auto driver here whether anyone really cares for dirt in this election. “The point is that this is an area which doesn't consist of affluent people. Its only when you have money can you think of hygiene. We don't have money, so probably elected representatives don't think that we deserve hygiene.” This constituency consists of a large number of migrant labourers from eastern UP and Bihar. The AAP candidate who won from here in 2013, is again in contention here. In 2008, the BJP candidate, Shri Kishan had polled 32,000 votes and won. In 2013, he polled 49,000 votes and still he lost. That's because Sanjeev Jha polled over 60,000 votes.
This time, BJP is trying to be extra cautious. So they have replaced Kishan with Gopal Jha; a move obviously inspired by the rationale of targeting the North Indian voter.
We come across two individuals who are just about to be getting onto the Metro station. “Who works better for Jahangirpuri, we ask them?” Resident 1: “At the centre, my vote was for Mr Modi, but I think here at the Assembly level, my vote is with Mr Kejriwal. It's better for democracy.”
Another man states precisely the opposite. Resident 2: “We have to now go with Mr Modi. Give him time, I am sure that he will do well. Not just for Delhi but for the country.” Interestingly, this is one of the few constituencies around Delhi where you don't see posters of Modi. I ask a local citizen as to why I don't see posters of Modi, like in other parts of Delhi. He states, “How will you? First he brought in an outsider here, replaced the man who has been working here for ten years. Then he brings in an outsider for chief ministership as well, in the form of Kiran Bedi. BJP workers aren't very happy.”
On the 10th of February, this constituency result will be watched with interest. Because the anger against Ms. Bedi is playing out at its fullest here.