Gurugram: Impartial candidates who had been denied tickets by the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) and the Congress are placing up a spirited contest in opposition to these backed by main political events. Many of those candidates, who’ve been lively of their wards for years, really feel side-lined regardless of their contribution to native governance. Their presence within the race has disrupted conventional occasion equations, giving voters a substitute for mainstream political selections.
Rimple Yadav (centre), a former councillor is contesting from Ward 2 in Gurugram. (HT PHOTO)
For a lot of Gurugram residents, the choice shouldn’t be simple. Some choose voting alongside occasion strains, believing within the BJP and Congress’ established networks, others argue that electing new faces is important for change. “For years, councillors have ignored our problems and only return when elections approach. This time, we will vote for someone who has worked for us, not just for their party,” mentioned Ram Avtar Yadav, a resident of DLF Part 2 and a former RWA member.
One of the vital formidable unbiased candidates is Rimple Yadav, a former councillor and the spouse of a former mayor. She is contesting from Ward 2. She has obtained sturdy help from residents in DLF Part 2, Dundahera, Sirhaul, and Udyog Vihar, which collectively have over 22,926 voters.
Regardless of her intensive expertise in municipal governance, the BJP denied her a ticket with none clarification. Her familiarity with the Municipal Company of Gurugram (MCG) and her historical past of addressing civic points, together with the demand for a DLF 2 neighborhood membership and water provide points in J Block, have strengthened her candidacy.
Residents are divided so far as their voting preferences are involved. Some imagine that staying with a celebration ensures continuity, whereas others really feel unbiased candidates like Yadav will carry a extra responsive and grassroot method. Rajesh Kumar, a Dundahera resident, mentioned, “Party-backed councillors have failed us. Independent candidates are more accountable and directly connected to our problems.”
Gurugram’s municipal elections have traditionally seen a mixture of unbiased and party-backed winners. Within the 2017 elections, BJP gained 14 out of 35 seats, whereas a number of independents emerged victorious. Lots of them later joined the BJP, boosting the occasion’s numbers within the MCG to 27 councillors. Nonetheless, this time, the anti-incumbency sentiment is robust within the metropolis.
Voters in areas like DLF Part 2, Dundahera, and Sirhaul are exhibiting rising help for unbiased candidates. Reena Singh, a Sector 17B resident, mentioned, “The ruling party has failed to improve our city. Why should we vote for them again? Independent candidates seem more committed to real change.”
One issue influencing votes is the urban-rural join. DLF Part 2 was developed on land acquired from Sirhaul village, and plenty of locals really feel unbiased candidates like Yadav will signify their pursuits higher.
One other unbiased candidate is Rama Rani Rathee, contesting from Ward 23. She had beforehand gained Ward 34 as a BJP candidate within the 2021 by-polls after the premature demise of her husband, RS Rathee, a revered councillor. Though she represented BJP within the by-poll, she has been denied a celebration ticket for the upcoming polls.
Rathee has dedicated to bettering infrastructure, sanitation, safety, and environmental points. She has mentioned that addressing water provide, drainage, electrical energy distribution, and street upkeep will likely be amongst her high priorities, if elected. “Having been a councillor before and closely witnessing my husband’s tenure, I understand the ward’s challenges. My focus is on sanitation, security and developing more green spaces,” she mentioned.
With simply days left for polling, unbiased candidates are proving to be sturdy contenders, reshaping the electoral narrative in Gurugram. Their deep native ties and voter frustration with mainstream events make this an unpredictable contest, with vital implications for Gurugram’s governance.