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Key issues
Key poll issues for 2003 Assembly elections:
Key poll issues for 2003 Assembly elections:
Unauthorised colonies
Both parties are for regularisation. The Congress insists that a scheme formulated in the time of Indira Gandhi be adopted and that no development fee be charged from people’s whose colonies are regularised. The Urban Development Ministry, however, plans to levy a small sum. Nothing has been done and the issue hangs in balance.
Statehood
The Congress opposes the Centre’s plan for statehood and says it wants complete control like UP, Bihar or Maharashtra. It also wants the Delhi Policeunder its ambit. The Home Ministry, however, has delinked police from the statehood bill leading to an impasse.
Delhi Metro
Though only a small section between Shahdara and Tri Nagar has been opened for traffic, both parties lay claim to it. As the Metro is a joint venture of both the issue ends up neutralised.
Flyovers
The BJP claims that all flyover building in Delhi was conceptualised in its regime (1993-98). It shows newspaper reports and plans of the various agencies constructing flyovers to buttress its point. The Congress rubbishes the claim.
Health and Education
The BJP’s major grudge against the Congress is that there were no new schools, hospitals and colleges opened though population has increased. The Congress has little answer though it cites figures to claim that they were indeed built.
Milk, Onions, Dengue
The BJP blames the Congress on these fronts and says the latter is squarely responsible for shortage of milk, increased onion price and the dengue outbreak. If the situation worsens this could also be the BJP’s election plank. The Congress claims the situation is under control.
Good governance
This is the main plank of the ruling Congress. The party plans to project the achievements of the Sheila Dikshit government to seek another term. Congress activists cite the popularity ratings of the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit and claim Delhi is one of the best governed states in the country. The BJP has countered the Congress claim saying no developmental activity has been carried out.
Condition of roads
The BJP says that the condition of roads in Delhi had never been so bad in the last 50 years. It points an accusing finger at all the potholes and stagnating water in wide view everywhere in the Capital. The Congress, on the other hand says a heavy monsoon caused these problems and says things improved as soon as the monsoons ended.
Power privatisation
The BJP has smelt a rat in the entire episode and has repeatedly alleged that underhand dealings took place in the process of privatisation. The party alleges a scam of crores. The Congress says that privatisation has improved the power situation in the Capital and claims that scam is a figment of imagination of the BJP leaders.
Water shortage
The BJP has raised the issue for the last six months. The people of Delhi it says are thirsty and alleges that nothing is being done on this front. The Congress in turn blames Haryana for the water shortage. The party claims that its government had cleared the Sonia Vihar project which would immensely help Delhi overcome the water shortage.
Bhagidari scheme
The interaction between the government and the people is being cited by the Congress as a major achievement and as a poll plank. The party says that for the first time, the people had a responsive government. The BJP counters it by saying that bhagidari scheme was implemented only with the “privileged Delhiites and the moneyed sections” and not with the majority of people who are underprivileged and living in the JJ and resettlement colonies.
Both parties are for regularisation. The Congress insists that a scheme formulated in the time of Indira Gandhi be adopted and that no development fee be charged from people’s whose colonies are regularised. The Urban Development Ministry, however, plans to levy a small sum. Nothing has been done and the issue hangs in balance.
Statehood
The Congress opposes the Centre’s plan for statehood and says it wants complete control like UP, Bihar or Maharashtra. It also wants the Delhi Policeunder its ambit. The Home Ministry, however, has delinked police from the statehood bill leading to an impasse.
Delhi Metro
Though only a small section between Shahdara and Tri Nagar has been opened for traffic, both parties lay claim to it. As the Metro is a joint venture of both the issue ends up neutralised.
Flyovers
The BJP claims that all flyover building in Delhi was conceptualised in its regime (1993-98). It shows newspaper reports and plans of the various agencies constructing flyovers to buttress its point. The Congress rubbishes the claim.
Health and Education
The BJP’s major grudge against the Congress is that there were no new schools, hospitals and colleges opened though population has increased. The Congress has little answer though it cites figures to claim that they were indeed built.
Milk, Onions, Dengue
The BJP blames the Congress on these fronts and says the latter is squarely responsible for shortage of milk, increased onion price and the dengue outbreak. If the situation worsens this could also be the BJP’s election plank. The Congress claims the situation is under control.
Good governance
This is the main plank of the ruling Congress. The party plans to project the achievements of the Sheila Dikshit government to seek another term. Congress activists cite the popularity ratings of the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit and claim Delhi is one of the best governed states in the country. The BJP has countered the Congress claim saying no developmental activity has been carried out.
Condition of roads
The BJP says that the condition of roads in Delhi had never been so bad in the last 50 years. It points an accusing finger at all the potholes and stagnating water in wide view everywhere in the Capital. The Congress, on the other hand says a heavy monsoon caused these problems and says things improved as soon as the monsoons ended.
Power privatisation
The BJP has smelt a rat in the entire episode and has repeatedly alleged that underhand dealings took place in the process of privatisation. The party alleges a scam of crores. The Congress says that privatisation has improved the power situation in the Capital and claims that scam is a figment of imagination of the BJP leaders.
Water shortage
The BJP has raised the issue for the last six months. The people of Delhi it says are thirsty and alleges that nothing is being done on this front. The Congress in turn blames Haryana for the water shortage. The party claims that its government had cleared the Sonia Vihar project which would immensely help Delhi overcome the water shortage.
Bhagidari scheme
The interaction between the government and the people is being cited by the Congress as a major achievement and as a poll plank. The party says that for the first time, the people had a responsive government. The BJP counters it by saying that bhagidari scheme was implemented only with the “privileged Delhiites and the moneyed sections” and not with the majority of people who are underprivileged and living in the JJ and resettlement colonies.