Cong likely to retain Mangolpuri seat on development mantra

Mangolpuri has been a Congress bastion since 1993 and local MLA Raj Kumar Chauhan, who had won four back-to-back elections here, looks set for another term riding on his development mantra while his opponents grapple with party issues and lack of worker base.

But things could have been for the incumbent Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government had the BJP not botched up its election campaign with leadership tussle days before the polls or the Aam Aadmi Party been a 'tested' alternative.

Locals here feel that despite rampant inflation and the government's inability to control prices, they have no choice other than Congress because of Chauhan's track record and no better alternative than Dikshit.

A middle-aged government employee, who did not wish to be named, says Chauhan, the PWD minister, has done a lot of work when it comes to infrastructure and basic necessities.

"We have good facilities of water and power, which are issues in so many neighbouring areas. We have 27 community centres in the area, roads are top class, you look at the parks, schools, high-mast lights at major traffic intersections. We even have a swimming pool in our area which is in the league of the one at Talkatora stadium," he says.

Another local, Atul Navariya, who identifies himself as a BSP worker says, "Although I have been a BSP man all my life, I would have to accept that Chauhan has done a lot of work. Mangolpuri is number one in the entire region. He has built a number of parks, one of which has been built on the lines of a park in America which he saw during his visit there."

The seat, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes, has seven candidates in the fray, including one independent, for the upcoming December 4 elections.