unruly middle class and to make it worse, the city is convergence of ever-demanding politicians from all over the country.Then the state has to deal with rape, robberies to make things worse for any ruling regime.
Yet, responsive Sheila Dikshit has ruled the state with calm confidence for the last 12 years winning three consecutive Assembly elections on the trot with massive mandate in a state known to be a BJP strong-hold.
She defied anti-incumbency not once but thrice making BJP run for cover. Many in her party planned and plotted to remove her but her development-oriented performance earned respect and admiration from people as well as the most powerful address-10, Janpath.
Her party colleagues like Ram Babu Sharma, Subash Chopra, Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler, J P Agrawal and Ajay Maken were gunning for her but failed because of the support from Party Chief Sonia Gandhi. One by one her adversaries fell by the wayside.
Sheila Dikshit who became Delhi CM for the first time in 1998 was no as confident as she is today. She herself says “twelve years ago I was nervous. Now I am confident and have many new plans to change the face of the Capital in the years ahead”.
Her holistic approach towards development of the city state of Delhi is now showing the result. Network of Metro, CNG fuelled public transport system, numerous Flyovers, cleaner Environment, substantial increase in the Green cover and reforms in the Power sector are the hallmark of the Sheila’s achievement.
Undoubtedly changing face of the Capital is there for all to see and it is on the way to becoming world class city. The sleek metro covering north, south, east and west has infused fresh dynamism to the people of Delhi. The Metro has become the envy of many a country. The Delhi model is in great demand from many States.
The Dirty old rickety buses are on the way out. Fly-overs, tunnels have brought about signal-free commuting for the Delhiites.
Improvement in power distribution sector through the help of private companies has also emboldened Sheila confidence in government.
Her Bhagidari scheme has also ensured active participation of citizens of Delhi, especially children, in all campaigns including ‘Say No to Plastic Bags’, ‘Anti-Crackers Campaign’, Plant more trees campaign’. ‘Khelo Holi naturally’,’Say no to shining wrapping paper’ etc.
The Commonwealth Games was both challenge and an opportunity for the CM. She grabbed with her arms. Even though the preparations for the Games were riddled with allegations of Corruption, she succeeded in steering clear of them.
She knew that she has to succeed; any failure would have put her on the block and would have left her life-long political career in shambles.
Sheila begin her political career form Kannauj Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh which she won 1984. She served on the Estimates Committee of Lok Sabha. Dikshit also chaired the Implementation Committee for Commemoration of Forty Years of India’s Independence and Jawaharlal Nehru centenary. She represented India at United Nations Commission on Status of Women for five years (1984–1989).
She has also served as a Union Minister during 1986-1989, first as the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and later as a Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Sheila successes must be appreciated, yet she has to do a lot for the Delhiite. Beside other education, health and social justice need more attention of her government.
Then we could claim that it is not Gujarat under Narendra Modi a model state, rather, it is Shiela Dikshit’s Delhi.