While BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi made the enthused public shout slogans during his rally on Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit conducted a one-on-one Google+ hangout with few citizens, who were questioning her 15 years of governance and what she has planned for the future.
Modi conducted three rallies, except the one in Sheila Dikshit's turf of New Delhi constituency. Calling her party 'arrogant', Modi attacked the Delhi CM on several counts at his Shahdara rally.
During the hangout, Dikshit also asserted that it would be the 'pro-incumbency' factor that will bring her party to power for a fourth consecutive term.
Following are the common grounds on which both the leaders spoke about:
On Delhi Elections
Dikshit: There will be no Modi effect in Delhi. There will no Sheila Dikshit factor, it's the congress that people would be voting for.
Modi: This time elections are being fought by the people. What can be better than the people themselves fighting the elections!..Congress thinks BJP is coming to Delhi.
On Corruption Charges Against Delhi government
Dikshit: Delhi government has no corruption charges regarding the Commonwealth games (CWG). Those who were suspected of corruption were sent to jail. I feel deeply hurt when people call us corrupt when we are not. We are trying to bring more e-governance at every level to ensure that corruption reduces.
(She later admitted during the hangout that the Sales tax department of her government has 'many flaws')
Modi: This government is drowned in corruption. Despite your (Congress) dirty tricks and every effort the people of Gujarat refused to believe you. Do not think you can try these tricks anywhere. People do not trust you any longer. Due to your sins you have lost people's trust.
In Gujarat we have started concept of 'One Day Governance'. Why cannot this concept be replicated in Delhi? CWG was an opportunity to enhance our brand. Forget stealing money, they lost an opportunity to project Delhi to the world
On power Tariffs
Dikshit: Power tariffs are decided by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission. They listen to all points of views and they tell us that see 'this is the rate u need to charge in order to meet the cost and profit'. And then my Congress government decided that till 200 units we need to give subsidy of Rs 1.25 and from 200-400 units we give subsidy of over 80 paise. I say this again that my government is giving the cheapest power.
For those (Aam Aadmi Party and BJP) who claim of reducing power tariff by 30 percent if they come to power this is my question: Are you going to cut the power supply by 30 or 50 percent as well?
Modi: The Congress leaders are spreading rumours that power is expensive in Gujarat than in Delhi. This is a lie. For 30 units you pay Rs. 3.90 and that is not the case in Gujarat. Above 200 units the prices is Rs. 5.80 in Delhi, in Gujarat it is Rs. 4.57. So, who is giving cheaper power? Commercial tariffs are also cheaper in Gujarat.
And Sheila ji, you do not have to give power to the farmers. We give power to farmers at affordable rates too.
On Women's safety
Dikshit: As far as (women) safety is concerned we have put up fast track courts and 181 distress phone line. We received 5 lakh distressed calls in past 11 months and many many cases have been resolved.
(When NDTV journalist Barkha Dutt asked her take on the Tarun Tejpal sexual assault case)
The law is there to act upon it and it will take its course. I don't see the need for me to express myself on the case.
Modi: (He did not talk about the subject during his rally)
On Rahul Gandhi vs Narendra Modi
Dikshit: Modi has announced himself as the incumbent prime minister. Nowhere, least of all Rahul Gandhi has ever done that. He is the vice president of the Congress and enjoying that position. There are a lot of hopes from the guy. Let us see how it goes. Nobody in our party announces anything before it has been gambled.
Modi: In Chhattisgarh Raman Singh ji went to people, Shivraj Singh Chouhan went to people in Madhya Pradesh and told them what they did. But see the arrogance of the 'rulers' of Delhi and Rajasthan. They are not willing to answer the people. Delhi has such big leaders of the Centre should they not meet you, address you and talk to you. It is a fashion now - elections may be anywhere but they want answers from Gujarat.
The national capital is scheduled to conduct assembly elections on 4 December with Congress, BJP and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to make debut in the chief ministerial race.
