Day-to-day issues dominate SC seats

"Naukri nahin hai (There are no jobs)," says Asha, 56, listing the struggles of her lower-middle-income family. Both of her graduate sons are jobless. She says she has just paid water and electricity bills totalling ₹2 lakh that her small home in Valmiki Basti near Gole Market ran up in a year. Ask her who she will vote for and she beams, "Mera beta Kejriwal keh ke gaya hai ki woh dega paise, main nahin (My son Kejriwal has said he will pay this money and I don't need to)."

Like Asha, neighbor Sant Pal says their problems worsened after AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal was jailed. "I don't know what kind of bills this government gave us," he says, referring to the "Centre." Kejriwal's message about the BJP government's role in 'inflated' water bills and 'worsening' law and order resonates in Delhi's Scheduled Caste-dominated seats.

In the 2020 Assembly polls, AAP won all 12 SC-reserved seats, dominating 7 constituencies, including Sultanpur Majra, Mangolpuri, and Madipur, with victory margins ranging from 20,000 to 56,000. ET examines the key issues in these seats, whether the Opposition's "attack on Constitution" narrative is resonating, and what factors are influencing the SC vote.

ANTI-INCUMBENCY

Five years after sweeping the reserved constituencies, anti-incumbency against AAP MLA is evident. Pratap, a resident of the JJ cluster in Trilokpuri, says, "AAP MLAs worked during the first five years, but this time there's been no real progress. Just look at the roads inside the colonies. During the monsoons, it's impossible to stand here; the entire cluster floods." However, Pratap makes an important distinction. "But Kejriwal is the one who's worked for people like us. Look at our schools-before, there was hardly any standard of education in our nearby schools, in Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri... nobody thought of us. But now, go and see," he says, emphasising that while Kejriwal's leadership has benefitted the community, his MLAs have let him down. "Jhadoo hee chalegi (The broom will win)," declares Rakesh, a fruit seller in Trilokpuri.

AAP acknowledged this sentiment, dropping MLAs from Madipur, Deoli, and Trilokpuri, and moving Rakhee Birla to Madipur. A new candidate was fielded in Seemapuri after Rajendra Pal Gautam joined Congress.

A recent survey by the National Confederation of Dalit Organisations shows 44% of Dalit respondents favor AAP, 32% BJP, 21% Congress, and 3% others. Kejriwal remains the top choice for Chief Minister.

LOCAL FACTORS vs CONSTITUTION

In Sundar Nagri, where Kejriwal began his political journey, the mood has shifted. At the crowded bazaar near the SDM office, people remember Kejriwal's dharna against the Sheila Dikshit government. However, Santosh Koli, his trusted supporter who died in 2013, is now remembered with criticism of AAP. Gulab Singh, a fruit vendor, says, "We were promised free electricity and water, but now we face inflated bills. Can I afford lakhs in bills?" Law and order concerns also weigh on residents, particularly women, who cite incidents of stabbing and chain snatching. The exit of sitting MLA Gautam to Congress further dampened AAP's support, prompting the party to field former Congress MLA Veer Singh Dhingan as a Dalit face.

When asked about the Constitution, voters often got confused. "Samvidhaan ka kya karenge?" they ask, focusing instead on their daily struggles. Aruna, a resident of Valmiki Basti in Gokalpur, says, "Our children have no jobs. You teach them, and they study in an environment surrounded by small-time criminals. They graduate, hoping for a better life, but there are no jobs."