Despite having turned up to vote in large numbers during May’s Parliamentary elections, Gurgaon’s upper middle class remains an ignored votebank.
The suburb’s ‘posh colonies’—its high-rises and condominiums—had sent out between 45 and 69 per cent of residents to cast their ballot in May, as compared to the comparatively lower turnout in 2004 and 2000.
The campaign for the Haryana Assembly elections has barely taken note of this fact, with most politicians aggressively canvassing in the densely populated suburban and rural stretches and staying clear of millennium city.
Umesh Gupta, a DLF Phase II resident, who runs an information technology company said Rao Dharampal—the Congress candidate from Badshahpur constituency— was the only politician to hold a public meeting in the locality.
“We also have reciprocated and welcomed his gesture of coming to our locality and have decided to vote in his favour in big number as, if elected, he is surely going to be the cabinet minister and work for the welfare of the people,” Gupta said.
Residents of posh localities claimed the percentage of votes cast was going to touch the 80 per cent mark this time, especially in condominiums and they “were going to spring an unpleasant surprise for the politicians.”
“None except for independent candidate R S Rathee from Gurgaon constituency visited us,” said M M Bhalla of Hamilton Court apartments in DLF City (Phase IV).
“Hardcore politicians are living with the misconception that we do not come out and vote. We have about 2000 votes in Windsor Court, Hamilton Court and Regency Park-II condominiums together and this is going to make a major difference to the politicians’ fate.”
{{/usCountry}}“Hardcore politicians are living with the misconception that we do not come out and vote. We have about 2000 votes in Windsor Court, Hamilton Court and Regency Park-II condominiums together and this is going to make a major difference to the politicians’ fate.”
{{/usCountry}}Other politicians who made their presence felt in New Gurgaon townships were Dharambir Gauba, Congress candidate from Gurgaon constituency; Mukesh Pahalwaan of the BJP from Badshahpur constituency and independent Rakesh Janghu.
Gauba claimed he had visit DLF City and met the people there. He said people living in posh localities maintained a distance from politicians.
Dharampal said, ‘The might (of those living in New Gurgaon) cannot be ignored and they need to be given due attention.”
Only Tuesday will tell if the claim holds water.