The spirit behind 'New Delhi'

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has in her tenure lifted the capital of India from despondency and put it on the path to development.

Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit is the mascot of the Congress Party's development plank. Her squeaky-clean image has helped and her work speaks for itself. "I do not have to say it but pollution control, flyovers, schools, hospitals and the transport system — everything says that people seek improvement. We have delivered."

Her track record in dealing with the capital's problems has gained her admirers. From cleaning up Delhi's air and switching to compressed natural gas (CNG) to being perceived as a force behind the Delhi Metro and introducing the Bhagidari Scheme to ensure citizens' participation in governance, she has done well for herself.

Dubbed by Delhiites as Aunty No 1, Dikshit cannot stop smiling. Still basking in the glory of the thunderous applause she received at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2010, she says: "I felt a sense of relief and joy when the games got off to a rocking start and ended with the same panache."

One could sense that Dikshit had her fingers crossed before the games. Asked then if she would be taking a holiday after the event, the three-time chief minister of Delhi had cheekily remarked: "Yes, I certainly will. I will go into a cave!"

But she didn't have to. Her grandmotherly smile, humility and honesty helped Dikshit sail through the rough and tumble ways the city readied and showcased itself in the nick of time.

All these years, in the thick and thin of politics, she focused on development. Coupled with good governance, she has been able to rule efficiently, despite having to face not just the opposition but also detractors within her party.

"For 12 years now, Delhi and I share a mutual admiration. Together, we have seen difficult times and fulfilled aspirations. My commitment to the city has translated into what it is today," she says.

with thanks : GULF NEWS : link above for detailed news report by Nilima Pathak who is a freelance journalist based in Delhi.