Mundka ready for neck and neck battle between BJP, Congress

Mundka constituency, largely a cluster of villages dominated by Jat population, is grappling with issues like good quality drinking water, proper sewerage, infrastructure and local transport facilities.

The constituency is headed for a neck and neck battle between the BJP and the Congress these Assembly elections.

Former North Corporation Mayor Azad Singh lost the 2013 Delhi Assembly polls to an independent candidate Rambir Shokeen from the constituency, which was the Bharatiya Janata Party’s stronghold.

Once again, the BJP has fielded Azad Singh, the brother of late Sahib Singh Verma who was the former Delhi chief minister.

Reeta Shokeen, wife of Rambir Shokeen, has entered the fray from the same seat, but on a Congress ticket this time.

Azad Singh, a 63-year-old politician who is popularly known as ‘Master’ Azad Singh as he used to be a teacher, is confident that the BJP will retain its traditional seat.

While Reeta Shokeen, 34, feels that women in the area will exercise their right to vote in her support.

According to reports, Rambir Shokeen had approached the Bharatiya Janata Party first, but later decided to join the Congress.

Though Delhi Metro has connected this village-cum-town constituency with the rest of the city, when people get out of the Mundka station, they cannot help but see bad roads and insanitary conditions plaguing the area.

But the residents complained that the area has not seen much development in the last couple of years.

“There are not enough number of toilets in many jhuggi jhopri clusters in the constituency,” said Sumit Kumar, a local.

There is no government hospital in the vicinity. “The nearest accessible government hospital is Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital in Rohini,” he added.

The main issue in the constituency is lack of adequate drinking water facility in the constituency.

BJP candidate Azad Singh said, “Some areas are facing problem of adequate drinking water. Providing good quality drinking water to every household is the top priority of the party.”

But Reeta Shokeen can be heard slamming Singh’s claims. She accused the former North Corporation Mayor of not paying heed to basic amenities.

The caste factor will also come into play in the area where the clout of late former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma is hard to ignore.

Some residents attribute the development of the area to him. “To a large extent, the development of the area was carried out by Sahib Singhji. But still a lot of work needs to be done,” said Sheela Sangwan, a resident.

Mundka comprises 2.38 lakh voters, of which, 27 per cent is Schedules Castes, 20 per cent Jats, 12 per cent Muslims and 17 per cent Other Backward Classes.

Though the Metro has made its way to Mundka, residents do not find connectivity in the area up to the mark. They want cheaper modes of transport.

“The Metro has definitely been a boon for us but we prefer to travel by bus. There is a need to run more buses to connect Mundka with far-flung parts of the city,” said Ramesh Singh, a local.
DH News Service