Issues of Narela: Necessary and/but (not) Sufficient 

Moderator: Ajay Kumar Mandal-
Enumerator: Sneha Chaturvedi and Neha Kumari

Elections in India are more than just a democratic exercise—they are a mosaic of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, each shaping the electoral landscape in unique ways. With multiple narratives emerging from various stakeholders, the Delhi Assembly Election 2025 is no different.
To capture the pulse of the electorate, interns and researchers from the SHD Research Foundation embarked on a journey across Delhi’s constituencies, aiming to understand voter behavior and sentiment. One such expedition took them to North Delhi’s Narela constituency, where they immersed themselves in the everyday realities of voters.
The research spanned four distinct areas of the constituency—slums, housing colonies, educational institutions, and market areas—each offering a different perspective on the impending elections. Through spontaneous conversations and on-the-ground observations, an interesting picture began to emerge.
For some, the elections symbolized hope and optimism, a chance for change and better governance. For others, it was merely a repetitive cycle, echoing past promises without tangible transformation. The research team sifted through public sentiment, analyzing the undercurrents of incumbency and opposition while placing these insights within the broader framework of political communication and electoral dialectics.

 Ideological Spin:

Indian elections over the last five decades have transcended policies and governance to become battles of ideologies, where controlling narratives, framing opponents, and strategically deploying rhetoric play a central role. At Narela Market area, Mr. Anonymous 1, a mobile shop owner and graduate, cited leadership as his primary criterion. Disillusioned with AAP’s governance, he criticized policies like free travel for women and raised concerns about gender-based inequality in public policies.
“Why implement something partially? If they are providing free bus travel, then extend it to men and senior citizens as well.”
For the 2025 elections, he planned to prioritize a candidate’s education and work experience, shifting his focus from corruption to the urgent need for healthcare improvements. Interestingly, despite his strong support for the BJP, he was unaware of the party’s candidate in Narela, reinforcing the observation that ideological affiliation often outweighs individual credentials.

 Women and Safety

Women’s safety emerged as the top priority among female respondents, significantly shaping their electoral preferences. Many women expressed a strong preference for candidates and parties that prioritize women’s rights and security measures. Welfare schemes, while important, took a secondary place compared to safety concerns.
Conversely, Mrs. Anonymous 4, a senior citizen, exhibited unwavering support for AAP, not based on its leadership beyond Arvind Kejriwal but solely due to its welfare schemes. She recognized the party only by its election symbol, Jhaadu (broom) and had no knowledge of the candidate’s name. Her perspective emphasized how, for many, policies and tangible benefits outweigh party manifestos or individual leaders.

 Performance over Freebies

Mr. Anonymous 2, a News Reporter, was initially assumed to be an educator, but he later revealed himself as a self-employed journalist with a post-graduate degree. Having worked in the media industry, he had never voted before due to his commitments covering elections. However, he expressed certainty that he would cast his vote this time.
Despite being highly informed about government schemes, he was dissatisfied with AAP’s governance, particularly due to grassroots-level corruption and inefficiencies. Unlike ideological voters, his decision was performance-based, emphasizing governance over political loyalty.
Similarly, Mrs. Anonymous 3, a government teacher with an MA and B.Ed., assessed candidates solely on their work rather than political allegiance. While she acknowledged AAP’s contributions to education, electricity, and water, she criticized its failure to address employment and corruption. She opposed free schemes and instead suggested raising salaries to eliminate the need for freebies altogether.

Students and First time Voters

Job insecurity and unemployment emerged as the most pressing concerns among student respondents. Many were dissatisfied with the existing job market and preferred parties that proposed strong employment policies.
“We are more worried about getting a job than politics, but if a party promises better job opportunities, I will vote for them.”
Employment remains one of the most significant factors influencing the electoral decisions of youth voters. However, despite their awareness of national-level policies, students exhibited low awareness of state-level governance and the role of MLAs.

Modi ki Guarantee

Interviews with a diverse set of respondents across caste, gender, and economic backgrounds revealed a growing skepticism toward freebies among middle- and upper-class voters. Instead, they advocated for policies that promote employment and tangible development.
Concerns over gender-based policies were also prevalent, with many questioning the rationale behind free bus services for women while neglecting men and senior citizens. Ultimately, a majority of respondents favored the BJP, citing confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership as the decisive factor. The “Modi ki Guarantee” slogan had clearly resonated with a large segment of voters.

Middle Class and Educated Voters

Educated voters avoided disclosing their party preference, emphasizing performance-based decisions over political affiliations. Caste-based politics had minimal influence on their choices, and their concerns centered on education and healthcare.
Many government employees reported that they had not availed of any welfare schemes, further reinforcing their focus on policy effectiveness rather than direct benefits. However, a lack of awareness regarding central government schemes was evident, particularly in slum areas, where access to reliable information remains limited.

Tenants (Kiraydar)

Several tenants reported not receiving free electricity benefits under government schemes. Instead, they paid Rs. 7–12 per unit to their landlords, indicating a gap in subsidy implementation. Additionally, many respondents hesitated to share their political opinions due to privacy concerns.

Learnings

Low voter awareness about local candidates continues to hinder the effectiveness of MLAs in governance, limiting their ability to address constituency-specific concerns. While employment and women’s safety remain key voter priorities, these issues are often overshadowed by larger national narratives, diverting attention from crucial state-level policymaking. There is a pressing need for improved political literacy to help voters distinguish between the roles of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha representatives, ensuring more informed electoral choices. Additionally, electricity subsidies are failing to reach their intended beneficiaries, particularly tenants, due to loopholes in policy implementation, highlighting the need for stricter monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. Although issues such as pollution, social security, and employment frequently emerge in public discourse, they have yet to gain the necessary traction to reshape Delhi’s 2025 electoral landscape significantly.