NEW DELHI: The middle class is often the loudest to complain about civic lacks. But the turnout of the same group was also the poorest on Sunday when they had to elect their ward representatives.
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Delhi MCD Election Results 2022 Live UpdatesWhile long queues could be seen in low-income neighbourhoods and JJ clusters in Govindpuri, Khichripur, Seelampur, Kondli, Sangam Vihar, Tughlaqabad, among others, middle- and upper-class areas like Chittaranjan Park, Greater Kailash, Mayur Vihar, Patel Nagar, Shalimar Bagh, Pitampura and Rohini had thin crowds at the polling booths.
BS Vohra, president, Federation of East Delhi RWAs, said the trend reflected the growing disillusionment of the middle class at the lack of development over decades. “Today’s complaints are the same as they were 20 years ago. The civic authorities just keep passing the buck, naturally resulting in voters’ apathy,” he said.
Suman Banerjee, 56, of Sarita Vihar in southeast Delhi said his son and wife did not go out to vote. “They said they didn’t hope for much from MCD because all parties forget the people’s needs,” he said.
Those who did queue up at the polling booths had a plethora of complaints about MCD. Vinay Singh of Punjabi Bagh said, “During the civic polls in 2017, we were told the central government would give MCD direct funds to function efficiently. But whenever we approached the councillor for projects in our area, he always claimed there were no funds.”
Arvind Haldar, 24, felt that since the policies of MCD are focused on jhuggi dwellers, the middle class did not venture out to vote. The software developer from Mori Gate also said, “The middle class does not enjoy any advantage in the civic body. The promises made by parties in manifestos either target the low-income citizens or the trading class,” said Haldar. “Frankly, it doesn't matter to me who wins the polls. But I certainly want a change in how MCD functions."
Sweta Bhardwaj, a resident of Krishna Nagar, pointed out the area’s perennial problems with encroachment, traffic jams, water logging and mosquitoes have never been resolved. “People have given up, that is why there is no large turnout,” she said.
Complaining of the bane of bribes in MCD, Vibhuti Malhotra of Mayur Vihar also asked, “BJP is claiming that it has unified the corporation. But why did it do this only before elections? AAP assures it will correct everything wrong in MCD. It has been at the helm in Delhi for a decade now, but has it cleaned the drains, has it cleaned the Yamuna, has it made Delhi pollution free?” She concluded, “All politicians are the same. Why should voters waste their time?”