NEW DELHI: As the countdown to the Delhi Assembly elections draws near, Janakpuri voters are speaking out, voicing frustrations with the state of healthcare, infrastructure, and governance in their constituency. Once a stronghold for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), discontent is palpable, and many are now contemplating a shift in political loyalty.
Delhi govt-managed DDU hospital in disarray: Voters
At the heart of local complaints is the crumbling healthcare system. Residents of Janakpuri say government-run facilities, such as Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital and Mohalla Clinics, are failing to provide basic medical care.
Rajesh Shah, a tea seller from Janakpuri, shares his frustration with The New Indian, describing how patients are turned away from the hospital with little to no treatment.
“The guards at the hospital say there are no medicines, and we have to buy them from outside. The Mohalla Clinics are no better. They give expired medicines and don’t provide proper care,” Shah lamented. “We are forced to take out loans at high interest just to afford treatment at private hospitals because there is no proper healthcare available here,”
For many, this has become a matter of life and death, as a lack of reliable public healthcare pushes people into debt or worse—untreated illness.
Rs 30,000 water bill shocks Janakpuri residents on AAP
The situation in Janakpuri extends beyond healthcare. The daily lives of locals are being further compromised by a poor water supply and neglected infrastructure.
Adding to the residents’ burdens are spiraling utility bills, a growing concern for business owners.
Shiv Kumar Yadav, a local shop owner near the Janakpuri District Centre, shares that his water bill had soared to an eye-watering ₹30,000.
“I’m living on rent, and I can barely afford it. This isn’t sustainable. I don’t know how much longer I can keep my shop open under these conditions,” he continues.
Shah’s frustration is echoed by other residents, including Rakesh Sharma, a local driver, who pointed to the crumbling roads and worsening traffic congestion.
“The roads are in terrible condition, and traffic jams are constant. What should be a 30-minute commute now takes over two hours. Encroachments are everywhere, and there’s no space for pedestrians. The whole area is filthy, with garbage piling up on the streets, and drains are clogged. It’s become a nightmare to drive through.”
The dire state of Janakpuri’s roads and streets isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a growing safety concern for drivers and pedestrians alike.
The Growing Garbage Crisis
One of the most frequent complaints raised by residents is the escalating garbage crisis in the area. Despite the AAP’s control over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), many locals say sanitation in Janakpuri has only worsened in recent years.
Brijesh Parasar, a computer teacher in the area, said, “The whole Pankha Road, from Sagarpur to Jeevan Park, is littered with garbage. The stench is unbearable. And despite AAP running the MCD, the filth has only increased in the last few years.”
Residents feel trapped in a cycle of unkept promises. With sanitation a key pillar of AAP’s election platform in the past, many are now questioning the party’s ability to deliver on basic services.
Political Shift in the Making?
Once a bastion of AAP support, Janakpuri now finds itself at a political crossroads. The local electoral landscape has undergone significant shifts in recent years.
In the 2020 elections, Rajesh Rishi of AAP won the seat, but his recent resignation from the party has added new complexity to the race. Rishi joined the BJP, turning what was once a solid AAP stronghold into a battleground for the 2025 elections.
The contest is now tightly contested between AAP’s Praveen Kumar, BJP’s Ashish Sood, and Congress’s Harbani Kaur.
