Delhiites don’t expect any major change

The MCD bypoll results on Tuesday brought victory for the three parties in the fray, but the results only inspired apathetic reactions from the residents of the national capital. The city residents asserted that whichever party won the civic bypolls, not much of a difference is expected at the micro-level.

“It has been two days since water has been supplied to our homes. So whether the AAP wins or the Congress, our problems continue to persist,” says Kalyan Singh, a 69-year-old barber and owner of a men’s salon.

The three Municipal Corporations of Delhi, dominated by the BJP, on Tuesday witnessed the Aam Aadmi Party as a new entry, winning five seats. The Congress won four seats and the BJP just won three out of a total of 13 wards in the recently-conducted byelections.

On being asked about the same, 58-year-old Ashok Bhansal said, “We must realise that all our problems aren’t going to be resolved within a day, given the corruption in our country. Even though I am not satisfied with the results, I can surely hope for the conditions to eventually improve.”

Having sent several letters to the MCDs over the increasing problems regarding sanitary issues, Mr Bhansal added, “No one ever responds to our concerns. It is quite impossible to even enter public toilets. We are only left to wait and hope for some change.”

Talking about daily challenges, Rajesh Lakhera, a rickshaw driver, shared, “It is difficult for the elected ones to stand up to the promises they have made. Prior to the elections it was all about campaigning and making commitments, but after that you hardly receive any support from them. It is always the same story.”

A similar reaction was received from the youth. Indifferent to the outcome of the civic bypolls, 19-year-old Arpan Gupta, a student of Delhi Technological University, said, “The way things are working, I don’t think there is going to be any difference. If we compare Delhi to other cities on the basis of civic amenities, we are certainly below average. Given that this has been the condition for a long time, the citizens are the ones who can now set a wave of change.”