After the small hamlet of Gharauli Khurd in Gurgaon, the threat of a poll boycott looms large much closer home in east Delhi’s Mayur Vihar Phase 3.
Thousands of residents of Mayur Vihar Phase 3 have threatened not to vote on April 10 as a “token protest” for the non-fulfillment of their long-pending demand for metro connectivity.
“We have been demanding the metro’s extension to Phase 3. But no one has paid any heed to our requests. We will vote for candidates who give us a written assurance of bringing metro connectivity to Phase 3. If no one gives us an assurance, we may be forced to abstain from voting altogether,” said PB Mohandas, coordinator, Action Council for Metro/ Monorail, Mayur Vihar Phase 3.
The area falls in East Delhi constituency. Sandeep Dikshit (Congress), Rajmohan Gandhi (Aam Aadmi Party) and Mahesh Girri (BJP) are fighting for the seat. Convener Venugopalan Nair said since 2002, the metro has expanded to almost all parts of Delhi but not to Mayur Vihar phase 3, which houses almost 10 lakh people.
“Former CM Sheila Dikshit had made promises several times to extend the Metro to the area. But when we saw the proposed metro expansion map, Phase 3 was not included on it,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“Former CM Sheila Dikshit had made promises several times to extend the Metro to the area. But when we saw the proposed metro expansion map, Phase 3 was not included on it,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“We have started a door-to-door signature campaign demanding the metro’s extension to Phase 3. Before the elections, we will submit our memorandum to the government,” said Mohandas. The council will have a general meeting in a day or two where lakhs of residents would be asked to protest by boycotting the polls.