Gautam Gambhir promises converting Ghazipur landfill into green space

Conversion of Ghazipur landfill into a green space, utilisation of waste to generate energy, clean Yamuna project and a Delhi University campus in East Delhi are on the agenda of cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir if he is elected in the Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP's Gautam Gambhir unveiled his "vision document" on Wednesday for the East Delhi constituency from where he is contesting the elections against AAP's Atishi Marlena and Congress's Arvinder Singh Lovely.

"I want to convert the Ghazipur landfill into a green space the way the Karnal bypass was done. We will also make efforts to utilise the huge amount of waste to convert it into wealth in the form of energy," Mr Gambhir told reporters.

The former cricketer said his foundation was working with "Namami Gange" project to help clean the Yamuna river much before he decided to take the political plunge.

"I had no plans to join politics then, forget contesting elections. My foundation was working on the project then also. I will work on making the ghats better," he said.

Noting that Delhi University students have to travel to North Delhi as most colleges are there, Mr Gambhir promised to set up Delhi University's East Campus if voted to power.

"If IP University can have a East Delhi campus why not Delhi University. Why should the students be subjected to travelling that far," he said.

A multi-level parking and a sports complex also figured on Mr Gambhir's agenda for East Delhi. Polling in all seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi is scheduled for May 12.

Read: Here's Why Atishi Marlena Feels She Has The Upper Hand Against Gautam Gambhir In The East Delhi Lok Sabha Election

Earlier, AAP's East Delhi candidate Atishi said people might want to see stars but want their representatives to be available to them in their everyday lives.

The Oxford graduate, who believes the BJP is her main opponent and the Congress is number three in the electoral race, said people won't vote for the former cricketer because they know he will anyway get disqualified after the elections.

"Gautam Gambhir is also proving to be a novice candidate. His nomination form was not filed correctly. He has two voter ID cards. People have this mindset - now that Gambhir has two voter ID cards he will anyway get disqualified so why waste our vote on him", Atishi alleged in an interview.