Sheila out to win new territory

NEW DELHI: Focusing squarely on people's issues and avoiding any sharp comments on the BJP, chief minister Sheila Dikshit went out asking for votes in the Lodi Colony area of her New Delhi constituency on Saturday morning. "I have no claims to make. My results are visible for all to see,'' was her modest message to everyone on the way.
Although the campaign, which lasted for three hours, was to be a padyatra, Diskhit did the rounds standing through the sun roof of her vehicle flanked by supporters."I come to ask for your votes and blessings not only as chief minister but also as a candidate from your constituency. In the past 10 years, Delhi's transformation has become evident, but we need more time to further this progress. More importantly, we need a stable government that will steer Delhi through the Commonwealth Games in 2010, ''she said.
Draped in a muted sari, her waving hand and smile had its familiarity but the CM was clearly in new territory. Lodi Colony Main market, Khanna Market, New Khanna Market, Mausam Colony and Aliganj are new areas for the CM who will now contest from New Delhi constituency after delimitation dissolved the CM's old Gole Market constituency. Yet her supporters there said she was not an outsider for them. "Sheilaji grew up here and used take the U-special bus to DU's North Campus from here where she will begin her yatra, so she is familiar with this area,'' said a local supporter.
With a heavy presence of government service families in the area, Dikshit made it a point to highlight her achievements in the social sector, including education and pension and put up defences against price rise worries.
"Inflation has gone down to 9% and will still reduce. But do not forget that in the face of price rise, it is the Congress both at the Centre and in the state that has given your families a 21% increase in salaries. The pass percentage in our schools has gone up to 86% and we have brought 90 new colleges under Indraprastha University. We even launched the Laadli Scheme to encourage the education of the girl child,'' Dikshit said.
The CM also advertised the Metro, low-floor buses and nearly 76 new flyovers as other achievements of her government that have made Delhi proud. By way of promises, Dikshit talked of adding 6,000 MW of power for the benefit of the people and said outages may not have disappeared but the frequency of power cuts has come down. She also highlighted the civilian nuclear deal as a policy that will bear rich results for the younger generation.
Through her campaign talk, Diskshit came across as stiff, warming up only in presence of women voters and supporters. In fact, she made special requests to women to come out and vote on the crucial day. "Women tend to get bogged down by household chores and are unable to exercise their franchise. I request them to take time out on November 29 and cast their vote in my favour,'' Dikshit said.paulomi.mehta@timesgroup.com