North East Delhi is one of the most diversified parliamentary seats in the capital, located along the Yamuna river and bordering Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Made up of a combination of semi-urban and metropolitan areas, the constituency has a diverse population, which includes a sizeable Poorvanchali minority and a sizeable Muslim population. The region, which is primarily made up of unapproved residential colonies, is peppered with shoddily built houses that line busy, frequently clogged roadways, especially in Shahdara, Jhilmil, Karawal Nagar, and Seelampur.
Formed in 2008 through the amalgamation of parts of East Delhi and Sadar Bazar constituencies, North East Delhi has witnessed significant changes over the past two decades. Despite infrastructure development projects like roads and flyovers enhancing connectivity, issues such as traffic congestion, waterlogging, inadequate healthcare and education facilities, dilapidated roads, and water supply shortages persist as major concerns for residents.
With a voter base exceeding 2.4 million, the constituency grapples with unique challenges regarding communal harmony and socio-economic progress.
The ongoing elections feature a direct face-off between BJP’s Manoj Tiwari and Congress candidate Kanhaiya Kumar, supported by AAP. Tiwari, a renowned Bhojpuri singer-turned-politician, has served as the incumbent MP since 2014, while Kumar, leveraging significant popularity, benefits from the organizational support of Congress and AAP.
Population surge in areas like Sonia Vihar has outpaced infrastructure development, leading to chronic issues like traffic congestion and waterlogging. Residents, like Bhupesh Gupta, express frustration over unfulfilled promises from elected representatives.
Similarly, in Gamri, prone to waterlogging, residents lament the lack of government action, with Arjun Singh highlighting recurring neglect by politicians post-elections.
In densely populated neighborhoods like Seelampur, Jafrabad, and Maujpur, inadequate educational opportunities for girls and insufficient government aid for local businesses emerge as pressing concerns. Faheem Baig from Jafrabad RWA underscores the absence of a government college for women despite longstanding demands, while Ajit Kumar from Yamuna Vihar points out the strain on healthcare facilities, with hospitals like Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) overwhelmed and operating beyond capacity.