Bhupendra Chaubey - Dilli Rajneeti: tête-à-tête with Somnath Bharti in Malaviya Nagar lyrics

Our next stop is Malaviya Nagar constituency in South Delhi. Named after Madan Mohan Malaviya, this constituency is home to many middle cla** traders, government servants and academics. While it's a part of the New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, it's nestled in South Delhi. The area is famous for its small dhabas and many antique shops. We begin our journey from a place which is also an identity of this area: Uphaar cinema. The same place. which way back in 1997 had witnessed one of the most horrible tragedies in Delhi. Today the movie hall is closed, yet the shops outside still record brisk activity. At a tea stall right outside the theatre complex, we stop by to have a chat with the owner. “Who will it be here, we ask?” “Somnath Bharti,” pat comes the answer. The same Somnath Bharti who was called all kinds of names in the media last year, when he won his first election and ended up becoming the Law Minister of Delhi. For a party which only came into existence a couple of years ago; for an individual who only fought his first election in 2013, Mr. Bharti has done an amazing job of converting this area into a safe seat of sorts for the AAP. There's been a void created by the BJP and Congress. That's why AAP has come in the picture -Somnath Bharti, AAP MLA, Malaviya Nagar We follow him as he walks around through several narrow lanes with a mike in his hand. He carries a pamphlet with him, which he shows everyone he meets on the campaign. “Amma, ye dekho, 49 din mei humne intni naali saaf karai. Koi aur karaya hai kya aise?” he asks an old woman. She nods in agreement. We haven't come here to build political careers, we've come here to work and do what BJP and Congress have failed to do -Somnath Bharti, AAP MLA, Malaviya Nagar While he goes on a padyatra around the area, we stop by a taxi stand. This stand is one of the oldest in the area. The manager of the stand, a Sikh, is a vocal supporter of the AAP. “Look, I was with the Congress for several years, but I found that this new boy Somnath, was full of so much energy that it was unbelievable. People may say whatever, but I am truly with AAP.” Come to think of it, this constituency has been led by the likes of Congress heavyweights, Yoganand Shastri and Kiran Walia. But Mr. Bharti has made this into his own haven in two years. Source: Wikipedia We move towards Khirki Extension, the place which was the venue of high drama during the 49-day rule of AAP. It was here Bharti was given the nickname of Batman. He had taken on the alleged drug mafia, all by himself. Questions were raised whether he was misusing his position as a Minister of Delhi. We stop by to have a chat with a group of youngsters on the law and order scenario in the area. A young working man states, "No party frankly has ever taken law and order seriously here. I am not sure whether the AAP too will address this seriously." A young college student walking around the area shares the secret of what may not work for Mr Bharti here." We supported Somnath Bharti last year, but he just came across as a very immature kind of a politician." But if there was a constituency in Delhi where one would put money on the AAP, then it would be Malviya Nagar. Not for nothing, did Kiran Bedi refuse to contest from this area when asked by the BJP.