‘Ek baar Congress ko mauka dijiye’: In Kalkaji, Alka Lamba canvasses for votes

The crowd is waiting for Alka Lamba, the 49-year-old fielded by the Congress to contest from Southeast Delhi’s Kalkaji constituency. She is facing off against sitting AAP MLA and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and former BJP South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri.

As news arrives that Lamba, who is supposed to undertake a door-to-door campaign on Sunday, is nearby, there is some confusion amongst her supporters about whether there are enough garlands to welcome her. When she finally does reach the spot, she wastes no time in formalities and greetings. She knows she has a tough task ahead of her today: introduce herself to potential voters.

“My name is Alka Lamba and my leader is Rahul Gandhi ji, who has sent me here to serve you,” she says.

The short sentence is necessary as her previous list of designations, which include being the Delhi University president, NSUI president and MLA from Chandni Chowk, is not known to people here.

As she walks over a half-built road and pipelines that supply water to houses, she asks the people to give the Congress a chance again. “Ek baar Congress ko mauka dijiye (Just give one chance to the Congress party again),” she says. “Ek baar lauto Congress ke saath (Return to Congress once more).”

The party has been in the political wilderness for over a decade in Delhi, drawing a blank in the last two elections in 2015 and 2020. Kalkaji too was once a Congress stronghold, sending a representative to the Delhi Assembly from 1998 to 2013. The party got just 12.72 per cent votes in 2015 and 4.64 per cent in 2020.

Back at the ground, Lamba climbs atop a chair and starts speaking. The small crowd gathered around mostly comprises just women and children, the few men listening to her are curious passersby.

Rashid Qureshi, 26, says the road and pipelines were laid here just within the last week. “They make new roads every five years. That’s just how politicians work.” About problems that he faces in the area, he says overflowing sewers and a lack of picking up garbage are the two main issues.

Lamba’s focus, however, remains on the women. Rallying against the AAP — her primary point of attack — she says: “If they wanted to give Rs 2,100 to you every month (under the Mahila Samman Yojana), why didn’t they do it until now when they have been in power for 10 years?”

Her BJP rival finds mention only in the context of his controversial remarks comparing roads to Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks.

Lamba then reminds the gathering that young people will be given Rs 8,500 every month — the Congress’s latest poll promise called Yuva Udaan Yojana — till they get a job and that women will get Rs 2,500 (under its Pyari Didi Yojana) to fight rising prices if the Congress forms a government in the Capital.

“Today, there is no treatment for poisonous air, alcohol addiction, and disease. People are just going to government hospitals and coming back without treatment. The Congress has promised that as soon as we form a government, we will give Rs 25 lakh health insurance for everyone,” she says.

“5 tarik, panje ka nishaan, 5 saal ke liye, 5 muddo par, Congress aap se vote maang rahi hai (The Congress is seeking votes on five issues; on February 5, press the hand symbol for five years),” she finishes her speech.