New Delhi, Jan 8 (KNN) The polling for Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 will be held on February 8, 2020 and the results will be announced on February 11, 2020, the Election Commission (EC) has announced.

It will be a three-cornered contest this time between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), BJP and Congress. Present Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP saw a thumping win in 2015 Assembly elections with the party bagging 67 seats, leaving just three (seats) for the BJP.

Industry and traders have all eyes set on the elections to see what is in the anvil for them and what the parties have in offering for them in their election manifestos.

To dig into more details and to know the Delhi's industries' expectations, KNN India spoke to some of the industry bodies in Delhi, who feel that now industries need relief from those obstacles which had tied them from flourishing.

Speaking to KNN India, Bawana Manufacturers Association (BWA) President Rajeev Kumar said in five years nothing has been done which has helped the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in a better way.

''For MSMEs nothing fruitful has been done either by the Central government or State government, if we see previous five years,'' he claimed.

He also spoke about the power tariff rates and how this tariff has forced the MSME sector to fall down.

''Power rate has been increased as compared to other state. The rates here in Delhi are too expensive. In the neighboring state it is Rs 8.50 per unit for industries as compared to Delhi where the rate is Rs 12.50 including taxes,'' he asserted.

He also highlighted issues like minimum wage which has been increased and impacted the production cost.

''If the production cost is high, how will the MSMEs survive,'' he questioned.

Apart from these, he also cited reasons like demonetization and Goods and Services Tax (GST) which affected the industries because of the absence of relevant policies.

''There were many changes like demonetization and GST and the policy needed to cope with these changes which were absent,'' he said.

However, he hoped that the coming government in February will promote Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in the national capital.

''The new government should focus on promoting EODB and put an end to Inspector Raj especially for obtaining licenses,'' he avowed.

While putting more emphasis on implementation he said that ''if we come out with a problem then at the same time we also suggest measures to resolve the issues but the plans need to be implemented by the government.''

NS Manku, President, Mundka Industrial Area Welfare Society slammed the government by saying that the government seen industries only as a vote bank.

''Any government who look industries as a vote bank for them, fail to understand that these ndustries are employing people who are unskilled who don't have any qualification. Particularly, Delhi government has no intention of taking care of them,'' he said.

On expectation from the new government he said, ‘‘Government must understand that MSMEs have an important role in building the nation.''

''They (Government) should think of building the nation and industries instead of capturing only votes,'' he concluded.

Kejriwal today released the report card of the developmental work done by his party in the last five years. (KNN Bureau)