Dwellers of Chandigarh colonies, slums vote for a change this time

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24

Despite facing dejection many times from their previous candidates, residents of colonies in the UT turned up to cast their ballot with a fresh ray of hope, even as the motive behind voting — “development and change” — did not change over the years.

Pigeonhole dwellers of colonies and slum clusters of Hallo Majra, Ram Darbar and Behlana flocked to polling booths in multitudes since morning unlike sectors where voters turned up in the latter part of the day.

“We’ve seen these candidates come and go and our roads remain as full of potholes as ever. There is no one to

clean the muck despite complaints made to councillors.

We are living in hell-like conditions since ages, but here we are yet again, casting our votes in a grim hope that things

will change. Can’t believe we are living in Chandigarh, which is called the City Beautiful,” said Shiv Kumar, a resident of Hallo Majra.

Other women voters had concerns for their daughters as the colonies are no more a safe place to live, colony residents felt.

Rina Pandey, a 40-year-old from Ram Darbar, said, “We are voting for a new candidate this time as we have tried candidates from both parties previously. None of them worked for the welfare of women. All we ask for is to make Ram Darbar safe for girls and women. There is a gang culture here and crimes are committed openly. I want to work but cannot leave my children at home as it is not safe here.”

Rajni (20) of Behlana, who is pursuing BA, exercised her right to franchise for the first time today. Sharing her experience, she said, “I asked my mother to accompany me to the polling station. It is a whole new and different experience. I am voting for a change in the conditions of our area. I do not feel safe in my locality and hope the elected leader addresses these issues on priority.”

AAP, Cong face-off

Chandigarh: Workers of AAP and the Congress had a heated argument outside a polling booth at the PU. AAP leader Chandermukhi Sharma opposed presence of a large group of “outsiders” near a polling station. He alleged that they were from the Congress. On getting information, a police team reached there. Later, the matter was resolved.