Sheila Dikshit showcases east Delhi progress in campaign for seven constituencies

NEW DELHI: It was a show of strength in East Delhi, the constituency chief minister Sheila Dikshit has carefully nursed for her son, Sandeep, who is the sitting MP from this area. Commonwealth Games transformed the landscape here with infrastructure and connectivity receiving a massive boost. And the rousing welcome the CM received across seven assembly constituencies during the "whirlwind" campaign on Wednesday will definitely boost Congress' morale. Urging the voters not to get misled and cast their vote only on the basis of Congress's past 15-year rule, Dikshit recounted a long list of achievements. She stressed that East Delhi had benefited the maximum during this period.

At Geeta Nagar, part of Krishna Nagar assembly constituency, where BJP's chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan is contesting, Sheila - without naming him - said the drive against polio was a central scheme and though it was launched in Delhi by BJP, it is Congress which completed it. The BJP has been showcasing the Pulse Polio drive as a feather in Harsh Vardhan's cap.

Dikshit didn't spend more than 10 to 15 minutes in any of the rallies but she minced no words while criticizing BJP and AAP, claiming that these "big and small parties' lies will be exposed. They are misleading the voters." On time for all her rallies, Dikshit attended seven in three hours, starting from Mayur Vihar Phase I and winding up at Geeta Colony, travelling more than 60km in the process. Earlier in the day she also attended a rally at Kalyanpuri which is a part of the Kondli assembly constituency.

The first show of the evening was at Mayur Vihar in Patparganj assembly constituency. The rally was organised at an intersection in Pocket 5, on one side of which are apartments and on the other JJ clusters. Sharing the stage with sitting MLA Anil Kumar, Dikshit, in a short and crisp speech, spoke about development and education while promising that "in the next five years, the per capita income in Delhi, which is already the highest in the country, will rise from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh." Touching upon the sensitive issue of shelter and unauthorised colonies, Dikshit urged the voters to elect "wo sarkar jisne sabko dil se chooan" and promised "we will not displace anyone from the JJ clusters. Rather we will build homes right where you are living."

Her next stop was Sanjay Park, Shakarpur, under Laxmi Nagar assembly constituency. Here the narrow lanes got choked as people flocked to hear her speak. Here, she slammed the BJP, saying, "BJP has been misleading you all for the past 15 years and you didn't listen to them thrice. So, don't listen to them this time as well. Then I heard there is a candidate from AAP as well. AAP wohi hain jo sabka mooh kala karte the, aur aaj un ka hi mooh kala hain. Kya aap unko vote denge?"

The largest gathering of the day was at Vijay Chowk, the main market area in Laxmi Nagar. Nearly 4,000 to 5,000 people were waiting to listen to her and she didn't disappoint them as she described east Delhi as "the destination in the city." Delhi health minister and the candidate in the constituency, A K Walia, shared the dias with her here.