In sync with local issues

From fighting and winning his first election as a 20-year-old in 1984 — for the vice president’s post of Delhi University Student’s Union —to contesting for a Parliamentary berth in 2009, Vijender Gupta has come a long way.

Vijender Gupta (45)

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From fighting and winning his first election as a 20-year-old in 1984 — for the vice president’s post of Delhi University Student’s Union —to contesting for a Parliamentary berth in 2009, Vijender Gupta has come a long way.

Gupta has also won three consecutive municipal elections from Rohini — in 1997, 2002 and 2007. A postgraduate from Sri Ram College of Commerce, Gupta counters his opponent Congress candidate and sitting MP Kapil Sibal’s charge that he is out of sync with national issues.

“I might not have any exposure at the national level but my tenure in MCD has helped me understand the city and its issues very well. As a municipal councillor, I have been in the forefront, fighting for the rights of city residents — be it protesting against the arbitrary fee hike in schools or protesting against sealing.”

He adds: “It’s a Lok Sabha election. So, it is natural that voters would have national issues on mind while exercising their franchise. But all national issues, in some way or the other, are manifestation of local issues only. You can’t ignore local issues altogether.”

Gupta said he is a grassroots politician with development as his main agenda. “I will also highlight lack of basic amenities in Chandni Chowk constituency. People don’t get water for days, there is power cut every day. They are feeling short-changed by Sibal,” he said.

However, Gupta does not have any concrete plans as to how to address these problems. Gupta said, “We will think of a scientific way to address it.”

Gupta lists the plan to redevelop Shahjahanabad as one of his achievements. “It was during my tenure as MCD standing committee chairman that the redevelopment plan of Shahjahanabad was approved.”