Students keen to visit Delhi to support AAP but lower middle class people will skip poll bound Jharkhand and Jammu & Kashmir.
The enthusiasm which was displayed by Mumbaikars during the Lok Sabha election held in Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand is missing this time when both states are going for polls in November and December. Last time, many people from the metropolis had visited both these states for campaigning purposes and to support their leaders. However, this time they won’t be going out of station due to busy schedules. The Lok Sabha election was held during the summer vacation hence it was easier for many supporters to visit these states. But now many of them will chose to stay back due to lack of holidays, financial constraints. If they go now then it will affect the studies of children.
Ashok Saha a Malad resident said, “I won’t be going for campaigning work this time to my native place in Jharkhand as my children have to attend schools. They have to complete their assignments and also have to appear for internal assessment test.”
Sushant Mahanto, a rickshaw driver from Kandivali said, “The Lok Sabha election was a different ball game as people had voted for change. This time, I won’t be going out of station for campaigning as I am facing financial problems.”
Aakash Mondal, a vegetable vendor from Kandivali said, “I won’t visit my native place this time to support my party as railways reservation is unavailable. Even the prices of tatkal tickets have become dearer hence it won’t be feasible for me to go Jharkhand this time. I would watch television to keep myself updated about the election results.”
On the other hand, students hailing from Delhi are keen to visit their home town to participate in the campaigning process. Students had supported AAP party in large numbers when the Delhi assembly election was held in December 2013. During that time, anti-incumbency factor was prevailing against the Congress party which enabled the AAP to make a major headway in Delhi. The common man was fed up of corruption and was desperately seeking a change of governance in the state.
Pravin Singh a FYBSc student from Kandivali said, “I will go to Delhi and support my leader Arvind Kejriwal. I am impressed with his style of functioning as he wants to eliminate corruption from the society.”
Darshan Verma a BPO employee from Malad said, “Even though Kejriwal had resigned from the post of Chief Minister after 49 days he has done a good job. People wanted him to continue to run the government. We are confident that he will work for the welfare of masses.”
“We had come to power riding on the Jan Lokpal movement and the Congress refused to let it pass in the Assembly. So we didn’t expect the people of Delhi to turn away from us in anger like they did. In time, we came to find out that residents wanted our government to continue because of the measures we put in place. They wanted the relief in power and water bills. They could see that because of our measures, such as empowering people through sting operations, corruption was coming down” said an AAP leader on the condition of anonymity.
