BJP fears Aam Aadmi Party’s absolute sweep in civic bypolls

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) sterling performance in Delhi assembly elections has unsettled councillors of all political parties. BJP councillors, who are in a majority in all the three corporations, are particularly worried. Bypolls are due in seven wards in the next few months, and given the present mood in the city, BJP fears AAP might make another clean sweep. What’s interesting here, however, is that AAP is yet to make up its mind about contesting in the municipal polls, let alone announce.

“If they can decimate Congress in Delhi, then winning municipalities will be a cakewalk for them,’’ said a BJP councillor. The wards that are headed for bypolls are Matiala , Vikas Nagar and Nanakpura in south; Jhilmil and Khichripur in east; and Wazirpur and Shalimar Bagh in north. The councillors of these wards contested and won in the assembly elections.

Councillors admit that now they will have to work harder to retain their strongholds and involve local residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) and other groups in decision making—something they have been avoiding for long. Most RWAs have been complaining about being left out of the decision-making process regarding development work.

Worse still, resident ward committees (RWCs) were formed in all the 272 wards, but most councillors have not been holding regular meetings. “RWCs are not taken seriously in many wards. Councillors prefer to spend funds as per their whims and fancies. We have been trying to change this for a long time. But now, they will take us seriously,” said Amit Aggarwal, member of Vasant Kunj RWA.

Councillors agree with Aggarwal. “This election result will change the way councillors work. But given the constraints, it is difficult to please all,” said a BJP man. His party has every reason to be worried.

Even after over six years in power, BJP has been sitting on many projects and schemes. It has failed to provide basic civic amenities like good roads, public toilets, parking spaces, sanitation etc. “Despite collecting conversion and parking charges, they have failed to provide new parking facilities. Most projects have missed several deadlines. They need to worry,” said Mukesh Goel, leader of the opposition, North Corporation.