Battleground Red Fort: Poll issues in Delhi

Kamna Arora The leaders have already thrown their hats in the rings. Now is the turn of voters to show their strength – to exercise their right to vote. Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government had passed a litmus test in the form of 2008 Assembly Elections. Now is the turn of hoi polloi to choose government at the Centre. Right from security to development, the leaders are busy in taking advantage of almost all the issues that affected voters in the last five years. Following are the key poll issues: Crime, women’s safety – A state run by a woman is considered to be one of the most unsafe places for women. Murders of Journalist Soumya Vishwanathan and IT executive Jigeesha Ghosh before State Assembly Elections 2008 have fanned the issue of crime against women once again. Although Congress managed to retain its power in Delhi, the issue can never lose its significance unless addressed properly. Whether day or night, women find it unsafe to commute in Delhi. The statistics by National Commission for Women state that of the total 2,000 complaints of crimes against women received till mid-December 2008, 535 were of rape, 338 of molestation and eve teasing, 361 cases were related to gender and caste-based discrimination and 21 for attempt to rape among others. Now, the Department Of Women And Child Welfare is reportedly planning to introduce various awareness campaigns to sensitise people on safety for women in Delhi. As a part of the effort, the Sheila Dikshit government is training women to be taxi drivers. However, it is still uncertain whether these experiments will make Delhi friendly towards women or moreover, woo women voters to hold the hands of the Congress. The national capital witnesses most of almost all violent crimes, including rape, dowry death, murder, kidnapping, molestation, and abduction. The ruling Congress party must have heaved a sigh of relief last year when Delhi saw a 13% decline in cases of rape, robbery, riot and dacoity. But the number of murders went north sharply from 467 in 2007 to 518 in 2008. However, the Union Home Ministry had, last year, listed Delhi on the top in incidents of crime in the country for the fifth consecutive year. According to experts, police-criminal nexus and slow judicial process are some of the reasons behind the rising crime graph in Delhi. And according to opposition parties, the issue of security could be their key to Parliament in recent elections. Security – Known as crime capital of India, Delhi is on radar of terrorists as well as of criminals. Hence, security is of topmost concern of voters in parliamentary elections 2009. Whether Congress or BJP, or any party trying its luck in Delhi will have to ensure security to voters to gain their support. Serial blasts in 2008 had shaken voters’ confidence in the security system of the state. Recently, a modern hi-tech security system was inaugurated in the Delhi Secretariat, which included anti-terrorist devices such as road blockers and hydraulic obstacles. But what about security at public places? Voters want such devices to be installed at public places to ensure maximum safety. Commonwealth Games 2010 – Is Delhi ready for Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in 2010? A Parliamentary standing committee is not satisfied with the ongoing preparations in the city for the 12-day grandiose event in October 2010. Delhi could reportedly face a shortage of over 16,000 rooms for tourists visiting the national capital during the games. It comes as a shock to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who has been claiming time and again that the state would be ready for the event well in time. "The left hand does not know what the right is doing," said Sitaram Yechuri, Chairman Parliament Committee. The committee has found the organisers completely unprepared for the games. Delhiites do not expect their government to leave any stone unturned in preparing for the event, for which the international community is gearing up. It is a grand chance for India and Delhi, in particular, to prove itself as the impressive host, especially after China’s outstanding performance as host of 2008 Olympics. However, the games, an event that could help the government get the best mileage at the right time, have now put Delhi government in trouble. Recently, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) questioned an advertisement published by the government in newspapers, singing the praises of its achievements ahead of the games. The BJP claims that this “advertisement has been published to bring political mileage for the ruling party. They (Delhi government) are making false promises of more jobs to garner votes.” Taking the issue seriously, the Election Commission of India has asked the Centre and the State Government to recover the cost from the personal accounts of those who released it. Development – The 2008 Assembly Elections saw the emergence of development as the key issue in Delhi. The problems of congested roads, choked sewers, parking woes, and inadequate community facilities are the top concerns of Delhiites. The political parties cannot afford to sneeze at the issue of development if they wish to acquire power. Projects such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) have not only attracted the wrath of the voters, but also embarrassed the Delhi Government. The opposition will try to fan voters’ fury to their advantage. Miscellaneous – Delhi’s traffic and killer buses are being tapped as the poll issues once again. Recently, the Delhi High Court asked the state government to hasten its phasing out of blueline buses. In October 2007, the court took suo motu cognisance of recurring accidents by blueline buses and directed the government to phase out all blueline buses from city roads. Opposition will definitely exploit public outrage over the rising fatalities. Last year alone, the capital’s 4,000-strong privately-run bus fleet had mercilessly mowed down at least 80 people. The menace is continuing this year as well. Corruption, ‘fast-running’ electricity meters installed by private distribution companies, and acquisition of land "without" adequate compensation are some of the issues that opposition parties are seeking to bank upon in the forthcoming elections.