Delhi polls: Testing times for candidates in GK

NEW DELHI: Residents of the Greater Kailash assembly constituency yesterday posed some tough questions to candidates from BJP, AAP and Congress, who are contesting from the area.

The questions pertain to giving more power to RWAs, misuse of MLA funds, land policy, BRT corridor, power tariff reduction, traffic issues among others. While both BJP and AAP are clear about scrapping the BRT corridor if they come to power, the Congress candidate avoided taking a stand on the issue.

The contestants from this seat are Saurabh Bhardwaj from AAP, Congress' Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of President Pranab Mukherjee and BJP ex-councillor Rakesh Gullaiya.

Citizens Alliance, a residents' collective, organized the event, which turned out to be a candid debate where the candidates put arguments and counter-arguments over various issues. The two-hour event gave an opportunity to the residents to try and test the candidates of their choice.

While all three candidates agreed on giving more power to RWAs, Bhardwaj went a bit further by setting a six-month deadline to enhance involvement of residents in the area's development.

Then came the "ethical" question of choosing between the party and the people. The AAP candidate was the first to be asked about his stand—what if, he and his party high command (Arvind Kejriwal) are not on the same page on an issue of public interest? "Such a situation cannot arise and if it happens at all, I will resign and support the public cause." To lighten the mood, Bhardwaj said pointing to a resident, "But then you have to promise me that you will re-elect me as an independent candidate."

BJP's Gullaiya then took a dig at the AAP candidate by saying, "We are not the type to resign and run away. We want to serve the people."

Sharmistha Mukherjee was cautious in her response. "An MLA has a role as a representative of the area, a different role as a member of a party and a larger role as a legislator in the House. A balance needs to be maintained," she said.

To a question on why people should vote for Congress which is mired in corruption, Mukherjee said, "It was a coalition government led by Congress. What Congress should have done was to get out of it by seeking a fresh mandate. It did not do so and that was a mistake. Having said that I want to ask which other party does have an MP and a minister from the incumbent government who have been put behind bars?" she said.

To the issue of fast meters, she admitted that she too had faced the problem at one point of time and this needs to be addressed.