New Delhi voters expect more from their BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi

The oldest constituency in the national capital as it exists today, New Delhi is a prestigious seat for political parties. Over the 17 Lok Sabha polls, they have brought in the fray biggies from politics, even Bollywood superstar, given the importance the seat holds. The constituency has given the Bharatiya Janata Party a most successful run as it has won four times from here. The voters have brought stellar leaders like former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, LK Advani into power, twice each from here. The area houses premier institutions like the Parliament, PM house, posh colonies, cantonment juxtaposed against populated areas like Karol Bagh, RK Puram.

BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi made her political debut on New Delhi seat, defeating incumbent Ajay Maken of the Congress with a margin of 2.7 lakh votes. The Aam Aadmi Party had fielded Ashish Khetan who came in second, losing by 1.6 lakh votes.

Major issues

The New Delhi constituency is considered to be the most sound area in terms of civic infrastructure. Blessed with presence of the elite Lutyen's, a large part of the constituency does not encounter water, electricity, roads, congestion etc. However, one major issue that has remained prevalent in the constituency is sealing. New Delhi has commercial hub of Karol Bagh, one of the most upscale market Defence Colony falling under its area. The Supreme Court appointed monitoring committee has sealed major part of the Defence Colony market, literally rendering it without any business. The sealing drive was conducted in 2017 where the committee sealed basements, first and second floors of 80 per cent of the market even as the owners claimed that they have not violated any FAR guidelines and have also paid conversion charges as per rules. This left thousands of workers unemployed and the owners without any source of income.

Amongst civic problems, Karol Bagh, Malviya Nagar, Moti Nagar continue to grapple with congestion, illegal constructions and encroachments. Residents in the area have been demanding widening of roads for the past many years, a demand which is yet to be met. In RK Puram that has government flats, residents of Sector 5 are awaiting a community hall in their area, something the MP was apprised of way back in 2014 when she won but to no avail. "The foundation stone was laid years ago but nothing has been done after that. We have been chasing all the MPs who have assumed office to release some amount from the funds but to no avail. Lekhi too disappointed us," says YP Bhatt, a resident of Sector 5.

MPLAD funds

Lekhi has utilised an amount of Rs 24.38 crore from the MPLAD funds between 2014 to 2018. In the first year itself, she spent Rs 2.5 crore of the Rs 5 crore released by the government to upgrade the infrastructure of New Delhi Railway Station. She installed stainless steel benches, RCC benches, steel platform shelters and basic amenities at the place. In 2014-15, another Rs 2.5 crore was spent on four mobile health unit vans to the residents of the constituency. In 2015-16, she used only Rs 10 lakh. This was given to get an animal ambulance for Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre. Installation of around 40 open gymnasiums in seven railway colonies, east Punjabi Bagh, Rajinder Nagar, Moti Nagar, Andrews Ganj, Aurobindo Park, RK Puram among others incurred an expense of approximately Rs 4 crore in 2016-17. Street lights in Kirti Nagar, Ramesh Nagar, Moti Bagh among other areas were upgraded at a cost of around Rs 10 lakhs. Ten battery operated cycles were given to physically disabled for Rs 10 lakhs. An amount of Rs 18 lakh was released for construction of toilets at Andrews Ganj. Funds to the tune of Rs 2.2 crores were transferred to Central Public Works Department for the construction of a community at Prem Nagar in Patel Nagar. Lights worth Rs 11 lakhs were also set up in the same area. A bio-methanation plant in Pilanji village which was adopted by Lekhi, was made operational during her tenure, costing Rs 55 lakhs. She also set up more open gyms in 2017-18 across her constituency to the tune of approximately Rs 2 crore.

Parliament report card

Lekhi participated in 137 debates in the current Lok Sabha which also include 63 special mentions. Lekhi also attached her name to some special mentions that were taken up by other parliamentarians. She took up the debate on the need to provide benefits of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to all eligible people of her constituency. She also took part in Combined discussion on the Statutory Resolution regarding disapproval of Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appelate Division of High Courts(Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 and passing of Commercial Courts, Commercial Division And Commercial Appelate Division of High Courts(Amendment) Bill, 2018 (Resolution Negative and Bill Passed). Lekhi also held a debate on setting up of Shariat court by AIMPLB. Among special mentions, she was part of matters related to sexual offences against children, plastic waste disposal strategies in India, minimum wages to the poor among others. The parliamentarian asked 424 questions in the LS on various issues ranging from Armed Forces Tribunal, ragging, ECHS polyclinics etc. She was part of 15 discussions on government bills and 19 Private Members' Bill according to the records.

Political Overview

With the problem of sealing looming large over the New Delhi constituency and a lot o f voters complaining that Lekhi has not been accessible to them during her five-year tenure, the BJP needs to work hard on the prime seat. Traders in the area who are traditionally a BJP loyal votebank, are openly miffed about her indifference to the sealing issue. They have complained about the indifference of the MP towards their woes, indicating that the problem will be a game changer in the upcoming LS elections.

HIGH ON HOPES

Sealing of shops at Defence Colony market remains to be a major issue for the constituency

POLITICAL OVERVIEW

With the problem of sealing looming large over the New Delhi constituency and a lot of voters complaining that Lekhi has not been accessible to them during her five-year tenure, the BJP needs to work hard on the prime seat. Traders in the area who are traditionally a BJP loyal vote bank, are openly miffed about her indifference to the sealing issue. They have complained about the indifference of the MP towards their woes, indicating that the problem will be a game changer in the upcoming LS elections.

2.7lakh Vote margin at which Meenakshi Lekhi defeated incumbent Ajay Maken

WHAT VOTERS THINK ABOUT THEIR MP

I am highly dissatisfied with Lekhi as she did not bother to intervene in the sealing issue. The whole market has been shut for more than a year but she has not heard our grievance even once. She should have taken up the matter with the government.
— Jagdish Gupta, businessman

Lekhi was not accessible at all to us. We have not seen her in our area a few months after she won. We found it really difficult to meet her for our resident’s welfare work. Not the best way to treat your electorate.
— Ashok Dagar, Govt worker

 Our senior citizens’ society got a lift after Lekhi’s intervention and we are thankful to her for that. However, we would have preferred her to be more approachable and visible in the constituency.
— JR Gupta, President, Senior Citizen Council of Delhi

I am voting for the first time this year but I am happy with the way the incumbent MP has performed. Our roads are in good condition, we did not face any water or electricity woes too.
— Shivansh Gupta, student