Poor civic amenities in Gurugram could become a significant challenge for the BJP, which has held a stronghold in the city for over ten years, winning three consecutive Assembly terms since 2014.
However, the city’s declining infrastructure has increasingly become a source of frustration, with residents frequently voicing their concerns on social media. The key question is whether Gurugram, a BJP bastion for a decade, will continue to support the party despite these civic challenges.
What Are They Key Issues In Gurgaon?
Gurugram includes four constituencies: Gurgaon, Badshahpur, Sohna, and Pataudi. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP secured victories in three of these constituencies, while independent candidate Rakesh Daultabad won in Badshahpur.
Congress has fielded Mohit Grover, a former independent candidate who secured nearly 50,000 votes in the 2019 elections, as their candidate for the upcoming polls. Criticizing the BJP’s handling of civic issues, Grover recently tweeted, “BJP’s promises float away with every raindrop,” highlighting the ongoing problems with waterlogging and traffic congestion in the city.
Gurugram continues to struggle during monsoons, with roads frequently waterlogged and traffic brought to a standstill. Even upscale areas like Golf Course Road have been affected, with images of flooded streets being widely shared on social media.
Meanwhile, older areas such as Sadar Bazar and Gurdwara Road regularly experience traffic jams due to poor drainage. The city’s persistent issues with rainwater management have led frustrated residents to sarcastically refer to it as “Jalgram,” reflecting their displeasure with inadequate civic planning.
The BJP is under increasing pressure due to Gurugram’s civic issues, with criticism coming from both within and outside the party. Prominent political commentator Suhel Seth has used social media to address the Haryana Chief Minister directly, condemning the government’s failure to resolve the city’s infrastructure problems.
Long-Delayed Projects And Poor Civic Amenities
Adding to the criticism, GL Sharma, a former BJP vice president who recently joined Congress, accused the administration of neglect and financial mismanagement. He cited long-delayed projects, such as the Sheetla Mata Mandir construction and the incomplete Civil Hospital, as evidence of the BJP’s inability to prioritize essential public services.
Local resident groups have also voiced their concerns. Sandeep Foggat, President of the Gurgaon Greens Condominium Association, pointed out sanitation worker strikes and the accumulation of uncollected garbage as clear signs of the city’s deteriorating civic management.
He further criticized the government’s inability to complete vital infrastructure projects, such as building a much-needed bus stand and essential roads. Foggat described the past decade of BJP governance as “infertile” for Gurugram’s development, emphasizing widespread stagnation and neglect in urban planning.
As criticism over Gurugram’s civic shortcomings mounts, the upcoming election will be a critical test for the BJP. It will determine whether the party can maintain its hold on the city or if voters, frustrated by the current state of infrastructure and governance, will seek a change in leadership.
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