What Do the Voters of Kalkaji Say About the 2025 Elections?

The Jamia Review conducted an on-ground survey in Kalkaji, Nehru Place, and the areas surrounding the Lotus Temple to gain first-hand insights into voter perspectives ahead of the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections. The Kalkaji constituency in Delhi is set to vote on February 5, 2025. Here’s what the voters had to say:

“Jo accha kaam karega woh aayega,” said Ravindar, a 50-year-old rickshaw driver in Kalkaji. He is not frustrated by the traffic in Delhi, saying it is endless. He believes that citizens also contribute to worsening traffic and other daily problems. Ravindar appreciates the AAP government for making noticeable improvements in the education system. When asked who might win the upcoming elections, he responded with a smile, “Jiska naseeb hoga woh jeet jayega".

“Aaj tak kisi sarkaar ne vaade pure kiye hain??” Years of disappointment poured out of Rajesh, a businessman in Kalkaji. He’s tired of the endless and pointless promises made by Political Parties. Though some development has been there, the majority of the promises remained unfulfilled, he says. The Health and Sanitation situation has not been resolved, as the AAP Government’s Mohalla Clinics remain cruelly understaffed; while there remains piles of garbage, scattered all over public areas. He points us to a parking lot near the Lotus Temple, which has been recently cleaned in the days leading to the elections.

A policeman from Kerala, posted in Delhi for 38 years and a father of two daughters, firmly believes, “100% AAP ki sarkar wapis aayegi.” He dismisses concerns about women’s safety as propaganda, calling Delhi the safest place for girls. Praising the AAP government for quality education, he highlights the city’s drainage issues, where waterlogging remains a major problem. “Incidents happen everywhere, but since Delhi is the capital, news spreads faster, making it seem worse than it is,” he explains, emphasising the need for infrastructural improvements.

Vasudev Sahu, 48, who owns a Shikanji stall near the Lotus Temple in Kalkaji, shares a heartwrenching account of the hardships that tenants face in Delhi. Originally from Jharkhand, he shares that he has not received any kind of help from the previous governments. He is unable to receive Ration Support, as the authorities have canceled his ration card. “Jo ameer hai usko faayda mil raha hai, gareeb ko kya hi mila hai” He shares that the landlords in his locality take electricity and water charges from the tenants even though they don’t pay anything themselves.

His disappointment stems from a lack of trust in the electoral process, as he shares that no party does anything after coming into power, a lackluster democracy. He shares that there’s no difference between Jharkhand and Delhi, both of them hold nothing for the unprivileged like him.

"Waade toh karti hain, par kise pata poori karengi ki nahi—banne ke baad sab badal jaate hain!" says Mausmi, a female rickshaw driver roaming in the streets near Lotus Temple in Delhi for six months. Having lived in the city for 20 years, she has witnessed its changes. She feels safe driving in the evening and appreciates that the police don’t stop female drivers, only males. Proud of her purple rickshaw, she embraces her independence on Delhi’s streets.

“I feel safe here”, said Shruti, a 22-year-old MBA student in Delhi, defying the widespread stigma surrounding women’s safety that is normally attached to the city. Shruti as a young resident, demands cleanliness in Delhi and urges the AAP government to take pragmatic steps to clear the waste-ridden Yamuna. “Providing freebies is not enough, we need real-time changes to be made”, she said, criticising the declining efficiency of the current government in addressing the long-awaited public concerns. Expressing confidence in the working of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), Shruti ardently believes that the party is the need of the hour. Although oblivious to the facts and figures to fortify her stance, she is convinced by the BJP’s alleged attempt to make India a “Hindu-Rashtra” and considers it as the most significant step towards the country’s progress. When asked about her views on the INC(Indian National Congress), she alleged that the party is instrumental in perpetrating discrimination and caste politics in India. “I am myself a member of the scheduled tribes, But I disagree with Congress on raising the cap on reservation”, she said.

Rakesh, another Rickshaw Driver in the same vicinity, shares that despite AAP’s best efforts, its work is often interrupted by the central government. Expressing concerns regarding AAP’s initiative of Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (AAMC) and criticising the alleged “double engine ki sarkar”, Rakesh said.” The establishment of Mohalla Clinics is the most intelligent step towards addressing health concerns, but the centre’s undesired interference is making it difficult to function”. “Aaj Media Aatankwaad se bhi zyada khatarnak hai”, he added, Emphasizing the corporate takeover of the mainstream media today, which he believes contradicts its true values of truth and transparency.

To substantiate this, he mentioned the countless deaths that occurred during the Kumbh stampede, which were deliberately not reported by the media, highlighting bias and manipulation. Rakesh firmly quoted, “jis din media sudhar jaaegi, uss din desh sudhar jaaega”, reinforcing the role of media in preserving democratic values and broadcasting the realities of the society, rather than presenting adulterated content. A proud father of three sons, all of whom work in the government sector, Rakesh is a resolute rickshaw driver, who continues his profession with great zeal and honesty, defying all odds.

“Maine bachpan se Thumbs up peeya hai, mai kyu coke yaa pepsi peeyun? Maine bachpan se Congress ko dekha hain, main kyu kahin aur ki baat karu?”

This is what a Consultant based in Delhi said about his choice in the upcoming Delhi Elections, which he considered a choice between Congress and the AAP. But this is not a choice based on virtues, he says, rather “It is a choice between the lesser evil”. BJP, according to him is a “total hogwash”, with nothing to show for their campaigns.

Congress/AAP only for state BJP is a hogwash. The man shows dismay over the disrespect towards women shown by the saffron party’s candidate in Kalkaji and the lack of women candidates from the party.

He tells us about his revenue-lush business getting shut due to the aftershocks of demonetisation. He states that the free Electricity and water schemes by the AAP Government benefitted a lot of poor and unprivileged people. Further, he states that women have also benefitted from the free bus service in DTC.

He expressed disappointment over the lack of sanitation in his constituency, and in Nehru Place, where we took the interview. Even after winning the MCD Elections, the AAP Government has been unable to improve the situation. He further went on to blame the blame game and non-cooperative attitude shown by governments for the degradation of Yamuna and Delhi’s Air. Finally, he shared that he feels all the news Channels are biased, one way or another, and has left watching them altogether, a bleak situation indeed.

"If the government was truly effective, would these young children still be begging on the streets?" questions a resident, expressing deep scepticism regarding the work done by the previous governments. On safety, she says, "We don’t feel it anywhere." While women’s empowerment campaigns sound promising, she believes they serve political interests more than real change. "Buses may be free for women, but drivers often ignore us, letting men board while leaving us stranded," she adds, highlighting the gap between policies and reality.

A social worker shared a grim perspective, saying, "Even children aren’t safe—boys included. We have no hope from the government." Expressing deep frustration, they emphasised the growing vulnerabilities in society and a lack of trust in authorities to bring real change.

Ground Report by: Arslaan Beg, Om Gupta, and Sana Faiz for TJR.

Photos by: Shavez Qureshi for TJR