Jaipur seeks solution to local problems from poll contenders

The BJP has raked up security and the Congress talks about setting up an IIT, but polls to the pink city may be decided on more urgent local issues like scarcity of drinking water and infrastructure, and the party that addresses these may have the final word.      

In the build-up to the polls on May 7 in this saffron bastion, BJP candidate Ghanshyam Tiwari has raked up issues of internal security and economic slowdown to trump main Congress rival Mahesh Joshi.      

"While Jaipur itself has experienced the pain of terrorism, recession is also a big crisis. These issues would certainly play a key role in the polling as citizens are now more concerned about such issues and their impact on their lives," Tiwari said.      

The city witnessed a massive terror attack in May last year that killed over 60 people and left scores injured.      

The BJP is trying to cash in on the issue and project the "soft attitude" of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre towards terror. The saffron party has been holding the Jaipur Lok Sabha seat since 1989.      

However, observers said politics is getting increasingly local and he who rakes up more immediate local issues may clinch the victory in the end.      

Meanwhile, Congress' Joshi promises to develop the city as an education hub and try to set up an IIT in Jaipur.

Nevertheless, Joshi is focussing on local issues like the drainage system, drinking water availability and medical facilities, keeping in view their impact on voters.     

"Improper drainage system and scarcity of drinking water are the biggest problems of the city and I consider these major issues for locals," Joshi said.      

These apart, Joshi is trying to attack Tiwari on the ground that the BJP candidate is an "outsider" and that's why he is not much concerned about the problems of the locals.      

Following the death of its nominated candidate Girdharilal Bhargava last month, the BJP has fielded former state minister Tiwari to take on Joshi. Late Bhargava had won the seat for six consecutive times since 1989.      

The BJP candidate, too, has his own share of promises.      

Tiwari said strengthening security, bringing in Metro rail to Jaipur and bullet train between Jaipur and Delhi, promoting state tourism and making Jaipur a centre for best medical facilities in the northern India would be among his top priorities, if voted to power.      

The Jaipur parliamentary seat comprises eight assembly constituencies, of which five were won by the BJP and three by the Congress in the assembly elections held last year.      

More than 16 lakh voters would decide the fate of 25 candidates in the fourth phase of the polls.