Gurgaon Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP’s Rao Inderjit Singh Has the Edge Over Actor-Politician Raj Babbar

Gurugram Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 10 parliamentary seats in Haryana. It comprises nine assembly constituencies: Bawal, Rewari, Pataudi, Badshahpur, Gurugram, Sohna, Nuh, Ferozepur Jhirka, Punhana.

Sitting MP: Rao Inderjit Singh (BJP)

Candidates: Rao Inderjit Singh (BJP), Raj Babbar (Congress)

Election Insights

• BJP won 2019 elections with 61% vote share, followed by Congress at 34.4%. BJP is the front-runner in Haryana and the Gurugram LS seat.
• Three-time MP Rao Inderjit Singh is the BJP’s candidate. In 2009, he became an MP from the Congress. However, 2014 onwards, Singh has been an MP from the BJP. After 10 years in Parliament, some amount of incumbency is expected against him. But a weakened opposition gives the BJP an edge.
• Rao Inderjit Singh has dominated politics in south Haryana for three decades, and commands significant influence among the numerically dominant Ahirs in the constituency.
• Rao Inderjit Singh is known as a straight-talking person and has often not hesitated to speak openly even to the CM on public platforms. He is credited with efforts to bring AIIMS, Defence University, Dwarka Expressway, Commerce College etc in South Haryana.
• Ajay Singh of the Congress was pipped to be the favourite to take on Rao Inderjit in Gurugram, but the party has instead fielded actor-politician Raj Babbar. ‘Kaptaan’ Ajay Singh Yadav’s father had defeated Rao Inderjit’s father Rao Birendra Singh in 1952.
• Under the Khattar government, BJP is viewed favourably for its pro-development policies and initiatives. Gurugram’s urban electorate is strongly with the party.
• Focus on infrastructure projects, urban rejuvenation, and industrial growth has been a key push for the BJP. For example, the Dwarka Expressway, metro connectivity expansion, and improved road networks.
• Gurugram is a corporate hub with a significant presence of industries, businesses, and multinational companies. The BJP’s emphasis on economic reforms, ease of doing business, and investment-friendly policies align with the interests of the corporate sector.
• The party’s pro-business stance has garnered support from voters who are business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
• However, urbanites represent only 20% of the voting population in Gurugram Lok Sabha constituency. Despite urban transformation, voting in Gurugram is still influenced by caste, religion, and local issues.
• Muslims, Yadavs & SC/ST communities account for around 50% of registered voters. Punjabis and Jats are also significant groups in the constituency.
• Past trends show around 80% of Yadavs vote for a Yadav candidate, and Meo Muslims tend to support a Meo candidate en-bloc.
• Presence of multiple Muslim candidates in the fray could lead to vote split, helping the BJP. Consolidation of Meo Muslims behind a single Meo Muslim candidate could also prompt a counter polarisation of Hindus potentially benefiting the BJP.

Key Constituency Issues

• In the past, clean air, preservation of Aravallis, recharge of ground water and reconstruction of depleted water bodies had been a key election promise for Rao Inderjit. However, the report card on these matters is a bit chequered.
• Rapid population growth: One of the main reasons for the rising magnitude of civic issues in Gurugram is rapid population growth in urban areas, putting pressure on the cities infrastructure and resources.
• Traffic congestion: Gurugram is notorious for its traffic jams. This is due to a combination of factors, including narrow roads, poor public transportation, and a growing number of vehicles. It is expected that infrastructure projects like the Dwarka Expressway will solve some of these problems.
• Poorly maintained infra: The city’s infrastructure, including roads, sewage systems, and power supply, have struggled to keep pace with population growth. Problems like potholes, waterlogging, and power outages are still a major issue. Efforts of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) have not really borne fruit.
• Golf Course Road: Premium areas in the city like Golf Course Road have multiple under-construction sites where debris is often lying in the open and diesel-operated concrete mixers are frequently used. The Golf Course Extension Road is damaged in several portions, and it sees a high volume of heavy vehicles like dumpers, trucks and sand wagons.
• Waste management: Waste disposal is a major concern in Gurugram. There’s often inadequate collection and improper disposal, leading to pollution and health hazards. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had recently conducted surprise checks and imposed fines on Municipal Corporation officials for poor sanitation in the city. Such interventions show a pro-active approach of the BJP government, but ground realities remain a challenge. Green belts, open gymnasiums and networks of drains and sewer lines are not maintained properly according to BJP councillor Rama Rani Rathee from Ward 34.
• Toxic air: Like the entire NCR region, Gurugram struggles with acutely poor air quality during the winter months. There is very little greenery in the city’s high population density areas. Apart from burning of Parali by farmers in Punjab and Haryana, the open waste burning in residential areas is a major culprit. Many vacant plots have ended up as landfill sites with indiscriminate dumping of garbage.
• Polarisation: The 2023 riots in Nuh has spread a sense of tension in pockets. Nuh is a Muslim majority district with 79% Muslims. A consolidation of the Muslim votes against the BJP can be expected. Frequent confrontations between the Hindu and Muslim communities have also spread concern among ordinary residents about safety.
• Rao Inderjit Singh had levelled veiled criticism of the Khattar government during the violence. Singh had been championing setting up an RAF camp in Nuh for years, but it had been delayed under Khattar government. The land clearance for the camp was hastily given a day after the violence erupted.
• Crime: Gurugram has also seen an uptick in crime in 2023. Reports say Crimes against women have increased by 12%. There have been several murder cases in the past year like that of model Divya Pahuja who was the girlfriend of gangster Sandeep Gadoli.
• Menace of stray dogs: The stray dog menace has become a major concern in Gurugram. Gurugram has been reporting an average of around 15-20 attacks by stray dogs on a daily basis. This is among the top five civic issues ailing the millennium city. There are more than 17,000 stray dogs in the city.
• Water table receding: Data from the hydrology department reveals that the average groundwater level in the city in 1974 was 6.64 metres, which fell to 19.85 metres in 2006, to 26.3 metres in 2014, and to 36.99 metres in 2021. Rapid decline of ground water availability is a huge issue in landlocked Gurugram. Use of this water in construction work is another problem.
• Jobs remain a key issue in rural parts of Gurugram. The issue of reservation for locals in private jobs has had an impact. While under pressure from ally JJP, the Khattar government had pushed the bill through, it was put on hold by HC. The case is now in SC. An early resolution to the impasse would be essential for the state government.
• A defence university in Gurugram and an Ahir regiment for the Army have been long standing demand in the constituency.

Party-Wise Standing

• BJP: There are some dominating factors that have helped BJP sustain its popular image in Gurugram. Rao Inderjit is perceived as strong with a good track record of governance and administrative experience. BJP local leaders like Madhu Azad have also been perceived as capable administrators.
• BJP’s nationalist rhetoric and emphasis on issues like national security and cultural identity resonate with certain sections of Gurugram’s electorate. The party’s stance on issues including border security and terrorism has garnered support from voters.
• BJP has been known for its efficient campaign strategies, including grassroots mobilisation, social media outreach, and targeted messaging. The party’s campaign machinery has been effectively working to disseminate achievements, influencing voter perception.
• Congress: Congress party has had a significant presence in Gurugram, particularly in areas like Rewari. Historically, the Congress has appealed to sections of the electorate like the Muslims. However, the arrest of Congress MLA Mamman Khan for his alleged involvement in Nuh violence has hit the party’s image.
• Congress has faced challenges in Gurugram/Gurugram due to its perceived disconnect with urban voters and allegations of corruption when it was in power in Haryana.

Key Voter Demographics

• Hindu — 91.88%
• Muslim — 4.57%
• Ahirs — 17.5%
• SC — 13%
• Punjabi — 7.6%
• Jats — 7%
• Brahmin — 4.4%
• Gujjar — 4.2%
• Rajput — 4.2%
• Baniya — 2.8%

Key Development Projects

• Dwarka Expressway: This expressway aims to decongest traffic between Gurugram and Delhi.
• Delhi-Gurugram Border – Kherki Dhaula Expressway: This 8-kilometer stretch of NH48 has been upgraded to a six-lane expressway with improved safety features and better traffic flow.
• Improvement of major roads like MG Road, Golf Course Road, and Sohna Road.
• Rapid Metro: This 11.2-kilometer driverless Metro system connects key areas within Gurugram, including Cyber City, MG Road, and Huda City Centre. It has significantly reduced traffic congestion and provided a fast and convenient mode of public transport.
• IGL Gas Pipeline Network Expansion: This project has improved access to clean and efficient natural gas for residential and commercial purposes in Gurugram.
• Smart Lighting System: Upgradation to energy-efficient LED streetlights has resulted in better visibility at night, improved safety, and reduced power consumption.
• AIIMS Rewadi is the latest AIIMS to be set up in the state taking the number to two.
• The development of the Dedicated Freight Corridor through the state has boosted the economy further.
• Ambala Kotpuli Greenfield Corridor completed at Rs 10,646 crore.
• Every district in the state is connected by a national highway. Work on eight highways complete, 12 under progress.
• 62 rail bridges have been constructed.
• From six medical colleges in 2014 to 15 now.
• Global City: This year, the Haryana government has begun work on Phase 1 of the Global City project, a mixed land use project in Gurugram on 1,000 acres along the Dwarka Expressway that will comprise residential and commercial spaces with modern infrastructure and utilities
• The Global City project is being developed across parts of Sectors 36, 36B, 37, and 37B.
• The state government increased HSIIDC’s working capital limit for developing infrastructure in the Global City and IMT Sohna by Rs 1,500 crore.
• The budget for the year 2023-24 encompassed Rs 570.06 crore for infrastructure development (including roads, water supply, sewerage, and storm water management), Rs 1,151.77 crore for capital projects, with a notable allocation of Rs 300 crore for health services for the Sheetla Mata Temple project.
• Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS): This high-speed regional rail project will comprise a rapid rail connecting Delhi with Shajapur in Rajasthan, passing through Gurugram along the Delhi-Jaipur highway. Both the projects have been approved by the state government.
• The state government will soon form the Haryana Metro Rail Corporation (HMRC) on the lines of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and a proposal for the same is under the Centre’s consideration.
• New Gurugram: Development of a new and planned commercial and residential hub with improved infrastructure. New Gurugram is well connected with three highways, NH48, Kundli–Manesar–Palwal Expressway and Dwarka-Gurugram Expressway, Railway Station, Airport, and the proposed Gurugram Inter State Bus Terminus and Gurugram Heliport Hub.
• Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor: A bypass railway line around Delhi to reduce congestion, expected to be completed by 2026.
• The 126km corridor that connects Palwal with Sonipat via Sohna, Manesar and Kharkhoda broad-gauge double railway line will be used for passenger and transporting goods.
• Heli Hub Gurugram: A proposed project to develop a heliport for helicopter services.

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