Delhi’s Civic Turf War Heats Up Spotlight on Dwarka-B Ward

The upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by-election in Dwarka-B Ward has emerged as one of the most closely watched political contests in the capital’s civic arena. With polling scheduled for November 30 and results to be declared on December 3, all three major political parties - the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Indian National Congress (Congress) have fielded their candidates, setting the stage for a fierce battle in one of South-West Delhi’s most urbanised and influential wards. The Dwarka-B seat fell vacant earlier last year after BJP’s Kamaljeet Sehrawat was elected as Member of Parliament from West Delhi. The ward, dominated by educated middle-class residents, upscale housing societies and expanding commercial complexes, represents the evolving civic pulse of Delhi. The constituency has a total of 66,184 voters - including 33,934 male, 32,248 female and 2 transgender voters - spread across 54 polling booths in sectors 6, 10, 11, 12, 22 and 23. According to the State Election Commission (SEC), over 87 percent of voters here are highly educated, making it one of the most civic-conscious demographics in the city.

BJP Eyes a Retain: Determined to retain its stronghold, the BJP has fielded Ms. Manisha Rajpal Sehrawat, a 10th-pass candidate with movable assets worth ₹43.23 lakh and immovable property valued at ₹6.5 crore. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva expressed confidence, saying, “The triple-engine government of BJP - at the Centre, Delhi, and MCD - has earned people’s trust through visible governance and development.” The BJP campaign in Dwarka-B focuses on continuity and claims of progress under its leadership - including sanitation drives, road repair projects and improved street lighting. However, residents have strongly criticised the tenure of former BJP Councilor  Ms. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, accusing her of prolonged absence and neglect. Many allege that despite Dwarka’s planned structure, civic conditions have deteriorated, with open drains, potholes and irregular waste collection persisting across sectors.

AAP Banks on Grassroots Connect: Seeking to reclaim lost ground, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated Ms. Rajbala Sehrawat, a 12th-pass candidate with movable assets worth ₹3.97 lakh and immovable assets valued at ₹76 lakh. Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Rajbala has been working with residents at the grassroots level for years. People are fed up with garbage piles, corruption and apathy. They want a representative who listens.” AAP’s campaign highlights its vision for mohalla-level accountability, improved drainage and lighting and a robust grievance redressal system. Party volunteers claim that their campaign has faced “continuous interference” and harassment by authorities - including restrictions on holding street meetings and removal of campaign posters. “Despite having all permissions, our volunteers are stopped and questioned unnecessarily,” alleged an AAP coordinator from Sector 11.

Congress Seeks to Rebuild: Attempting to revive its urban base, the Congress has fielded Ms. Sumita Malik, a graduate from Allahabad University, who has declared movable assets worth ₹46.19 lakh and immovable assets valued at ₹3.5 crore, with liabilities of ₹13.5 lakh. Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav described her as “a grounded leader who believes in listening before acting.”

Malik’s campaign focuses on solid waste disposal, waterlogging and parking management - the top issues identified by local RWAs. The Congress team too has complained about administrative bias, claiming that their campaign vehicles and permissions are being “unfairly delayed or cancelled.” Malik stated, “Authorities are not acting neutrally. Despite submitting full documentation, our door-to-door campaign permissions are withheld.”

Residents across Dwarka-B share a common complaint - the inefficiency and inaccessibility of the previous representative. While the BJP highlights development under its governance, locals cite examples of stalled projects, delayed sanitation tenders and unattended complaints. Many RWAs claim that they had to use their own funds to maintain internal roads, lighting and parks, while official works remained pending for years. “Even a simple request for garbage pick-up took weeks of follow-ups,” said Seema Kapoor, an RWA member from Sector-10. “If this is how local governance works, then what’s the point of having a Councilor?”

Dwarka-B’s civic concerns are deep-rooted and multifaceted. Despite its planned structure, the sub-city faces challenges including waste mismanagement, encroachment, waterlogging and parking chaos. Residents complain that the ward budget lacks transparency, with no public display of expenditure or project timelines. Many RWAs have demanded ward-level audits and citizen oversight committees. “We have the intellect and infrastructure to be a model ward,” said Dr. Nitin Kohli, a dentist and RWA member from Sector-22. “What we lack is accountability. Whoever wins this election must publish monthly progress reports and attend public grievance hearings.” Although Dwarka-B is just one of 12 wards facing by-elections, its result carries symbolic political weight. Nine of these wards were previously held by the BJP. As of now, BJP holds 115 seats, AAP 99, Indraprastha Vikas Party 16, and Congress 8 in the 238-member MCD. The outcome here could influence the balance of power and shape the next mayoral election.

The State Election Commission has appointed dedicated returning officers and police observers to ensure smooth polling. It has also launched the “Nigam Chunav Delhi” mobile app, enabling voters to check polling-station details, candidate affidavits and live updates. Polling booths in Dwarka-B are being set up at schools and community halls across Sectors 6, 10, 11, 12, 22 and 23 for maximum voter accessibility.

As campaigns intensify, all three parties are adapting their strategies for Dwarka’s digitally aware and highly literate population. The BJP relies on its governance narrative and MP’s performance. The AAP is banking on its grassroots connection and citizen-first pitch. The Congress is appealing to rational, middle-ground voters frustrated by BJP-AAP bickering. But residents remain clear-eyed. “We’ll vote for a candidate who knows local issues, not just party agendas,” said Kiran Chopra, a professor from Sector-12. “Someone who attends meetings, tracks fund usage and responds to citizen calls. We’ve had enough of invisible councilors.” With one of Delhi’s most educated electorates ready to make its voice heard, the outcome in Dwarka-B on November 30 may well shape not only the ward’s future but also redefine civic accountability in the capital’s political landscape.

Residents Speak Out: 

While parties exchange political barbs, Dwarka-B residents are vocal about their 

disappointment with the former Councilor’s 10-year tenure, 

which they describe as “unavailable and indifferent.” 

Here’s what people across Dwarka sectors are saying:

“For nearly a decade, we’ve been complaining about broken pavements, clogged drains and unregulated hawkers, but no one from the BJP Councilor’s office ever showed up. The Councilor treated this ward as a stepping stone, not a responsibility. Dwarka deserves leaders who live here, not just visit during elections. The current candidates seem to be unaware of our problems and we are again being pushed to the same situation. residents now demand service delivery, not political slogans.”

Ramesh Malhotra

Sector-10 Resident & IT Professional:

“Kamaljeet Sehrawat may have become an MP, but she ignored Dwarka completely as Councilor. Our parks are poorly maintained, garbage bins overflow and street lights don’t work in several lanes. Even after repeated complaints, her office never responded. I’ve seen AAP volunteers cleaning areas on their own, but they are harassed by authorities when they try to hold small meetings. This bias is visible and unfair.”

Anita Sharma,  Sector-6 Homemaker

“As a retired army officer, I value discipline and accountability - two things the last Councillor lacked. Residents had to depend on their own RWA funds for basic repairs. Now, when AAP and Congress candidates try to engage with citizens, their events are disrupted by police citing ‘security reasons.’ This selective enforcement damages democracy at the grassroots.”

Col. (Retd.) R.K. Mehta, Sector-11

“The previous Councilor’s performance was disappointing. She rarely attended public meetings and communicated with selected NGOs and residents. We were told projects were ‘in process,’ but nothing changed. If educated people like us are struggling to get simple grievances heard, imagine what others face. The system needs a shake-up. Authorities should allow fair campaigning for all candidates - this harassment of AAP and Congress teams is shameful.”

Vandana Bhatia, Teacher, Sector-22

“As a youth voter, I feel cheated. Dwarka looks the same as it did ten years ago - maybe worse. My generation doesn’t vote on party lines anymore. We want efficient civic management, digital grievance systems and transparency in fund use. Instead of stopping candidates from campaigning, the administration should focus on ensuring a fair election.”

Arjun Gupta, MBA Student, Sector-23

“For 10 years, we heard promises but saw no results. Waste segregation was never implemented properly, internal roads are broken and illegal parking is out of control. Our Councilor was always ‘busy at meetings’ - meetings we never saw. Now AAP and Congress candidates are being stopped from door-to-door campaigns, which shows insecurity in the ruling setup. Residents are noticing this.”

Rajesh Kumar

Sector-6 Housing Society

“The Councilor ignored complaints about school zones and pedestrian safety. Streetlights near schools remain faulty for months. It’s disheartening. Now when AAP workers distribute pamphlets, they’re detained or told to remove posters. Authorities must be impartial. This is not rural politics - Dwarka voters are educated and will not tolerate bias.”

Meenakshi Saini

Government School Teacher, Sector-12

“I filed multiple complaints about drainage overflow and garbage management last year - no response. The MCD staff were dismissive and rude. Such inefficiency is unacceptable in a city like Delhi. AAP and Congress should be allowed to campaign freely. Harassment of candidates shows fear. Residents like us want to listen to all sides before deciding.”

Deepak Arora

rivate Banker, Sector-10

“The MCD office acted like a ghost department - no one picked calls, no grievance portal worked and even sanitation workers weren’t supervised. Dwarka residents had to push their own RWAs to get municipal work done. I see new candidates trying to connect door-to-door, but they face unnecessary administrative hurdles. It’s as if someone doesn’t want change here.”

Shalini Verma, Architect, Sector-23

“For a decade, the MCD absence was glaring. They only appeared during election seasons. The ward fund utilization details were never shared transparently. When educated citizens ask for accountability, they’re ignored. Now when AAP and Congress candidates try to hold meetings, permissions are mysteriously revoked. This is harassment - plain and simple. Dwarka voters are not fools.”

Vijay Sharma

Retired Government Official, Sector-11