In Chhatarpur, it’s all about the Tanwar family
31 Jan 2015 5:06 AM IST
The BJP, AAP and Congress candidates have three things in common — all the three are Tanwars, live in Fatehpur Beri village and share a close family relation.
This is one of the few assembly segments in Delhi where promises of CCTVs and wi-fi might not make much appeal as people still struggle for basic amenities and issues of livelihood. The assembly segment was formed in 2008, consists of rural and immigrant population in its unauthorised colonies and is surrounded by posh farmhouses of south Delhi localities, while the lower and lower middle class population of Chhatarpur struggle for water, power and efficient sewage system.
The BJP’s outgoing MLA Brahm Singh Tanwar looks confident about repeating his victory again, while AAP’s Kartar Singh Tanwar, who was a BJP councillor from Bhati Mines area is claiming an emphatic victory over the BJP. On the other hand, the Congress candidate and two-time MLA Balram Tanwar makes himself count by giving a slogan Iraade mazboot hain, 10 saal saboot hain (Last 10 years are the proof of Congress’ determined efforts for development).
The fight for political power has become more interesting this time as all the three candidates hail from the same Tanwar clan. They all live at Fatehpur Beri village and share a close family relation.
With the major part of the demography consisting of rural and unauthorised colonies, basic amenities like roads, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) water supply, sewerage and parks are still missing. Regularisation of these colonies has been a major issue in all the elections but nothing substantial has been done by any party so far.
“The Congress, in power had initiated the regularisation process by distributing provisional certificates and the BJP in the Centre is now cashing on it by issuing notification over it. Regularisation has always been our first priority and if elected to power again, I would work for it again,” said Balram Tanwar.
He also claims his victory by explaining: “Last time in 2013, the AAP had caused a great damage to my vote share as people voted for Kejriwal and it benefitted the BJP. But now, things have changed. The AAP has fielded Brahm Singh’s (outgoing BJP MLA) family member and former BJP councillor Kartar Singh Tanwar. Both are from the same family. People here are confused and angry over their party-changing attitudes.”
While defending his move of changing party from the BJP to AAP, Kartar said: “Being a BJP councillor, I was religiously working for Bhati Mines slum dwellers. The area has over 50,000 people living there which was declared a ridge during the BJP rule in 1996. People here were living without electricity and water. With the help from charitable trusts, I managed the electrification of the area and installed tube-wells for drinking water. Seeing the development works both the BJP and Congress leaders filed several cases against me. Then I decided to join the AAP.” Kartar also reasserts AAP’s promise of subsidised electricity and free drinking water to the constituency.
The constituency with over 1.75 lakh voters and the segment covers areas like Neb Sarai, Sainik Farms, Chhatarpur, Aya Nagar, Mandi Gaon, Sultanpur, Dera Gaon, Bhati Mines, Bhati Kalan, Chandan Hola, Satbari, Rajpur Khurd, DLF farms and Maidan Garhi.
This is one of the few assembly segments in Delhi where promises of CCTVs and wi-fi might not make much appeal as people still struggle for basic amenities and issues of livelihood. The assembly segment was formed in 2008, consists of rural and immigrant population in its unauthorised colonies and is surrounded by posh farmhouses of south Delhi localities, while the lower and lower middle class population of Chhatarpur struggle for water, power and efficient sewage system.
The BJP’s outgoing MLA Brahm Singh Tanwar looks confident about repeating his victory again, while AAP’s Kartar Singh Tanwar, who was a BJP councillor from Bhati Mines area is claiming an emphatic victory over the BJP. On the other hand, the Congress candidate and two-time MLA Balram Tanwar makes himself count by giving a slogan Iraade mazboot hain, 10 saal saboot hain (Last 10 years are the proof of Congress’ determined efforts for development).
The fight for political power has become more interesting this time as all the three candidates hail from the same Tanwar clan. They all live at Fatehpur Beri village and share a close family relation.
With the major part of the demography consisting of rural and unauthorised colonies, basic amenities like roads, Delhi Jal Board (DJB) water supply, sewerage and parks are still missing. Regularisation of these colonies has been a major issue in all the elections but nothing substantial has been done by any party so far.
“The Congress, in power had initiated the regularisation process by distributing provisional certificates and the BJP in the Centre is now cashing on it by issuing notification over it. Regularisation has always been our first priority and if elected to power again, I would work for it again,” said Balram Tanwar.
He also claims his victory by explaining: “Last time in 2013, the AAP had caused a great damage to my vote share as people voted for Kejriwal and it benefitted the BJP. But now, things have changed. The AAP has fielded Brahm Singh’s (outgoing BJP MLA) family member and former BJP councillor Kartar Singh Tanwar. Both are from the same family. People here are confused and angry over their party-changing attitudes.”
While defending his move of changing party from the BJP to AAP, Kartar said: “Being a BJP councillor, I was religiously working for Bhati Mines slum dwellers. The area has over 50,000 people living there which was declared a ridge during the BJP rule in 1996. People here were living without electricity and water. With the help from charitable trusts, I managed the electrification of the area and installed tube-wells for drinking water. Seeing the development works both the BJP and Congress leaders filed several cases against me. Then I decided to join the AAP.” Kartar also reasserts AAP’s promise of subsidised electricity and free drinking water to the constituency.
The constituency with over 1.75 lakh voters and the segment covers areas like Neb Sarai, Sainik Farms, Chhatarpur, Aya Nagar, Mandi Gaon, Sultanpur, Dera Gaon, Bhati Mines, Bhati Kalan, Chandan Hola, Satbari, Rajpur Khurd, DLF farms and Maidan Garhi.
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