Lok Sabha elections 2019: New Delhi’s Shakur Basti assembly seat keeps healthy voting record

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections too, the assembly segment was among the few which recorded a turnout of 70%-plus. Having a diverse demography, Shakur Basti has planned areas, regularised colonies, low-income settlements and slum clusters.

Shakur Basti, an assembly segment in the Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency, recorded the highest voter turnout at 68.7% among the 70 segments that make up the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi. The Capital went to polls on Sunday.

“I had to wait for around 1.5 hours to cast my vote. My priority is nation first and a government that could protect the country against terror threats,” said Amrit Gandhi, 50, a businessman in Rani Bagh market. (HT Photo)

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections too, the assembly segment was among the few which recorded a turnout of 70%-plus. Having a diverse demography, Shakur Basti has planned areas, regularised colonies, low-income settlements and slum clusters. The area also has a large population of traders in retail hubs such as Rani Bagh, Harsh Vihar, Lok Vihar and Jwala Heri.

Vineet Goel, who has grown up in the area and runs a cloth store, said the enthusiasm to vote has always been high in the area. “Revival of economy is a major issue in this election. My brother’s shop was sealed even though he had paid conversion charges. My business like many other small businesses which have also suffered in the last two years because of GST,” said Goel.

Many others also listed sealing one the prominent issues in these elections. National security and local amenities such as better sewage network and uninterrupted water supply were also the issues that residents wanted to be addressed by the new government.

“I had to wait for around 1.5 hours to cast my vote. My priority is nation first and a government that could protect the country against terror threats,” said Amrit Gandhi, 50, a businessman in Rani Bagh market.

For slum-dwellers in the Railway Jhuggi Camp, open drains and mosquito breeding were major poll issues.

“We went door to door to ask people to come out and vote despite the problems we are faced with in the area. We also have our own community elections. The area had reported at least 40-50 cases of dengue and viral fever last year. We have voted for resolution of our grievances,” said Pappu Valmiki, an auto rickshaw driver, who is also the camp’s ‘pradhan’.

The assembly segment, which has had Congress and the BJP MLAs represent it for two terms each between 1993 and 2008, went to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the 2015 assembly elections. Delhi health minister Satyender Jain is the sitting MLA from this seat.

Sitting MP Harsh Vardhan said it was a vote in the favour of BJP. “I am not surprised by the high turnout, as I had expected it to be even higher. The voter enthusiasm in the area was high and people wanted to ensure BJP’s victory. Also, the party workers were organised and went door to door. This is a vote in the party’s favour,” he said.

Congress candidate JP Agarwal, who has represented the Chandni Chowk seat thrice, termed it a “vote for change”. “The traders are unhappy with the Central government’s policies. People were desirous of change. Former Congress MLA SC Vats had held the consecutively for two terms (1998-2003). People want the Congress back now,” said Agarwal.

AAP candidate Pankaj Gupta said it was a good sign that people voted in large numbers. “The AAP is the only party that can deliver change on ground and I am hopeful that people have voted for the same,” said Gupta