Delhi Assembly Election 2025: BJP’s Vijender Gupta defeats AAP’s Pradeep Mittal to retain Rohini seat for a third term

BJP’s senior leader Vijender Gupta has defeated Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Pradeep Mittal by 37,816 votes to retain power in the Rohini Assembly Constituency for a third term.

Rohini has been a BJP stronghold and a home turf for MLA and Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta. The senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently emerged victorious, even during AAP’s wave in the city in the previous elections—2020 and 2015.

A war of words also broke out during the campaigning in Rohini as Gupta slammed AAP for not tabling the CAG reports in the Delhi Assembly for discussion. He said that the AAP government had been involved in so much corruption over the past decades in the city that they are afraid their wrongdoings will come to light in front of the citizens of the national capital.

Gupta also released a mini-manifesto for the constituency, outlining the development work that Rohini would witness if he retains the seat. The work includes the reconstruction of internal roads and facilities such as guard rooms and local gyms, better maintenance of streetlights at cooperative residential societies, and addressing issues related to parking and vehicular congestion in the area.

On the other hand, AAP’s candidate Mittal had attacked the incumbent BJP MLA for neglecting the needs of the residents of the locality, saying that for the past decade, the MLA had not done a single thing for the people. Mittal also highlighted the work done by the AAP-led Delhi Government in several sectors, including education and health. He promised to solve local problems in the assembly constituency, including the revamping of roads, removing encroachments, and more.

Rohini is one of the 70 constituencies in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, designated as number 13. It is a general seat. Situated in the North West Delhi district, Rohini is plagued by broken roads, illegal encroachments, poor sanitation, water shortages, and inefficient waste management.

Broken roads and poor infrastructure

One of the main grievances among residents of Rohini is the deteriorating condition of roads. Several stretches in Sectors 7, 16, and 24, along with the internal roads in Rithala and Budh Vihar, have deep potholes, causing inconvenience to commuters and posing safety hazards, especially during monsoons. Many roads remain dug up for months due to incomplete government projects, adding to the woes of motorists and pedestrians.

“Our roads are in such a terrible state that driving has become a nightmare. During the rains, the potholes turn into mini-lakes, leading to frequent accidents. The authorities promise repairs every election season, but nothing changes,” says Amit Khanna, a resident of Sector 16, Rohini.

Encroachment on public spaces

Illegal encroachments have made life difficult for Rohini residents. Markets, footpaths, and even main roads in areas like Budh Vihar, Sector 24, and Avantika are occupied by unauthorised vendors and illegal structures. This has led to severe traffic congestion, making commuting a major challenge for locals. Parking has become a nightmare, with roads being blocked by unauthorised stalls and parked vehicles.

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“Encroachments have turned our footpaths into market lanes. Pedestrians are forced to walk on the roads, increasing the risk of accidents. The civic authorities clear them out occasionally, but they always come back,” complains Sunita Sharma, a homemaker from Sector 9, Rohini.

Poor sanitation and waste management

Garbage accumulation and improper waste disposal remain persistent issues in Rohini. Overflowing drains, uncollected garbage, and stray animals have made the situation worse, especially in areas like Sector 5, Pooth Kalan, and Bhagya Vihar. The absence of regular waste collection services leads to unhygienic conditions, affecting public health.

“The garbage collection in our area is highly irregular. Most of the time, waste piles up for days, attracting stray dogs and mosquitoes. We need a proper sanitation system,” says Rohit Verma, a shopkeeper from Rithala