Samvada Exclusive
(Gajainder Yadav), a Vice President of the Delhi BJP and National Treasurer for OBC within the party, is contesting elections from the Mehrauli Assembly constituency. With a background in journalism and extensive involvement in student politics, he held various positions, including Secretary of the BJP Youth Wing and Pradesh Adhyaksh.
Mahender Chau-dhary (MC) is a social activist and politician with a degree in law. He is a practicing lawyer with Saket court. He started his political career as president of the Congress youth wing during his college days.
What are the common problems in your views, our assembly, especially considering different categories like Mehrauli (Old City), Kishangarh (village), and Vasant Kunj (Planned colony)?
GY: The main issue highlighted is the severe water scarcity faced by several localities in their constituency during hot weather, which poses significant challenges to residents. Residents are forced to rely on tanker services for drinking water due to inadequate pipeline infrastructure provided by the Delhi government. This situation compels families to spend between Rs. 2000 and Rs. 3000 monthly on water.
MC: My area needs extensive resources to improve roads, sanitation, and lighting infrastructure, which have been in very bad shape for many years. Since we have limited resources and the population is growing, we need to check this problem. As a support to our councillor, Rekha Mahender Chaudhary, who happens to be my wife, I am able to get Rajya Sabha MP Funds to facilitate my ward with new electricity poles worth Rs. 2 crores. More work is in progress with additional funds to improve streets/roads and sanitation.
What are, in your view, the priority issues encountered by Vasant Kunj residents?
GY: Parking shortages lead to frequent disputes among residents in Vasant Kunj, reflecting further urban challenges alongside pervasive pollution in these neighbourhoods. Badly conceived roads are other problems on my priority list. Despite past administrations’ efforts over the last decade, these fundamental problems remain unresolved.
MC: Mehrauli Mahipalpur’s main road is going to be the priority issue in my view. I will take up this road project and persuade everyone concerned to make it an encroachment-free, world-class road like the Sri Aurobindo Marg section. I have been working with RWAs in our ward, which I will continue in the future. I will develop parks inside the colonies like one already developed, a lush green blackberry park that once was dry, dusty land. Residents around this park also did a marvelous job of keeping it under their direct supervision. Drainage systems are old and need additional attention.
In the past, it was seen that while Kisha-ngarh, Mehrauli, Harijan Basti, or Juggis got special funds from the government, planned colonies like Vasant Kunj had no such privilege. While spending your MLA or other funds, how will you help keeping Vasant Kunj status upgraded?
GY: It’s seen that even Vasant Kunj people, being affluent members of our society, donate various items to underprivileged members of the society while celebrating their birthdays, anniversaries, etc. As a karyakarta, I have grown with the BJP ideology of keeping all sections of our society on equal footing as parents. I will distribute my available resources into three equal parts.
MC: My constituency is privileged by virtue of its rich heritage. I can get additional funds to develop our areas into good tourist destinations. This can be a good source of livelihood for our residents. I assure the RWAs and residents of Vasant Kunj that 25% of my total funds will be available to them for development in their areas as per their suggestions.
In case you are elected from your constituency but the Delhi government formed is from the opposite party, how will you get the work done?
GY: Unfortunately, since the last six Mehrauli ward elections, the BJP couldn’t get a majority in five elections. But in the years 2017-22, with the efforts of BJP & RSS supporters and their hard work, my wife, Aarti Yadav, got elected as a councillor. While the Delhi government under Mr. Kejriwal was trying to suffocate MCD by depriving it of funds, Aarti ji got at least 125 streets redeveloped with her efforts and conviction. We got direct funds from the commissioner’s office with constant persuasion and project requirements. This is an example of how an educated representative with knowledge about the by-laws of MCD House, Vidhan Sabha, and rights can get the funds directly from officials. We have experience under such circumstances and can assure you of similar or better fund management for my constituency.
MC: Almighty has inculcated a quality in me to work with everyone around without any hesitation. Be it an MP, MLA, or councillor from any party, I will work jointly with them as a good leader without any boundaries. An MLA is just a signing authority, but a leader is one who works hard in any situation and gets the work done.
When your constituency demands something not in line with your own party in power, with whom will you stand?
GY: BJP is the only party that has internal democracy and gives a free hand to its MLAs. BJP has no binding on its MLAs but works on ethics with a nation-first, party second and self-third ideology. National first can only be if constituency first; progress and development are the only main agendas.
MC: Arvind ji our leader, will never force anything on others. His work is very democratic and will not do anything not in line with the people of the area. He has always stood by his public. I and my party will stand by our public.
Since Vasant Kunj is mostly from the middle class and most of our residents are either elderly couples or singles, with children living in other cities or countries due to their educational or employment commitments. How you or your office can be helpful to these people?
GY: For all senior citizens, either in Vasant Kunj or in Mehrauli, it’s our duty to see that their needs are met timely. We, in our 21-year-old NGO, ‘Shanti,’ started in memory of my mother, are working in Mehrauli, where our volunteers help senior citizens by accompanying them to the hospitals, arranging medicines, or visiting them to boost their mental health. If elected, my MLA office will certainly extend our services to the whole of my constituency.
MC: As our government is running various schemes for senior citizens, like religious tours, Sanjeevni health insurance, and other facilities, my MLA office will facilitate all such services for every citizen. My office will be available round the clock for any support needed. There are senior citizen associations, and we will work with them and get additional funds as per their suggestions and needs.
