At 27, Arsalan Azad has stepped forward from the narrow lanes of Okhla to confront Delhi’s civic
deficits through documented evidence rather than rhetoric. His videos reaching between 3 and 4
crore views each month highlight overflowing drains, unmanaged garbage, and abandoned public
spaces. Through consistent evidence and civic tracking, he is testing the responsiveness of
traditional political structures.
- Infrastructure Investment in Focus
- Drainage and sanitation in Okhla
Officials allocated ₹15 crore for the 2024–25 year. By March 2025, only ₹6 crore was
spent leaving ₹9 crore unused. Following the release of Azad’s video exposé, MCD
approved an additional ₹4 crore in April. While not officially linked, the timing suggests that public scrutiny can influence budget decisions. - Jamia Nagar drainage backlog
Data obtained through RTI shows approximately 60 percent of scheduled drainage
repair projects in quarter one remain incomplete or unverified. One of his videos showed raw sewage in Batla House despite official Delhi Jal Board records claiming clearance in January.
Measuring Influence Beyond Ballots
Unlike conventional politicians, Azad derives influence from real-time exposure. His reach eclipses
local political engagement: the incumbent MLA from Okhla won 45 percent of the vote in 2020 but
lacks comparable public attention today. Crucially, MCD cleaned a major blocked sewer within 48
hours of his video, an unusually rapid administrative response.
Citywide Policy Clarification
Azad has tackled reforms beyond Okhla. On June 19, Lt-Governor Saxena ordered the removal of
police NOCs for 25,000 restaurants, cafes, bars, hotels, motels, auditoriums, discotheques,
swimming pools, guesthouses, video game parlours, and amusement parks. The change follows
Delhi High Court and Supreme Court precedents recommending that licensing rely on civic authorities, not police. - Economic scale: This affects an estimated 1.5 to 2 million workers.
- Industry response: The National Restaurant Association of India and HRANI describe it as a “landmark” move expected to boost investment, job creation, and ease of doing business.
Azad published an explain-it-all video that translates legal jargon into citizen-level
understanding. He clarified who police no longer judge, how business owners must
apply to MCD/NDMC/Cantonment Board, and when policy will be implemented. His Q&A videos filled the gap left by official statements. Civic Budget Transparency
In June 2025 the Delhi government transferred ₹820 crore in untied funds to MCD, of which ₹20.3
crore was earmarked for biomining at the Okhla landfill. The larger MCD budget for 2025–26
allocates ₹4,907 crore to sanitation and infrastructure, the single largest sector out of a ₹17,000
crore total. Azad has published maps comparing ward-level funding with service performance. In some Jamia
Nagar streets, residents received waste pickups only twice a week despite budget allocations of over ₹25 lakh per quarter prompting fresh questions about priority setting.
Incumbent Perspective The sitting MLA and councillors defend the delays, noting that ₹10 crore was redirected to education, scholarships, and vocational training. They argue that while civic work is essential, long- term investment in human capital offers better returns. Data in the coming months will reveal whether drainage repair rates, waste collection time, and park maintenance match both amounts spent and promises made. An Interview in Okhla In Shaheen Bagh lane, next to a drain featured in his recent footage, Azad clarified his role:
Question: “You call yourself the opposition. What gives you that legitimacy?”
Azad: “When ₹15 crore is budgeted but only ₹6 crore is spent and streets stay polluted, accountability becomes opposition. I did not claim it. The gaps did.” Why Delhi Is Watching As Delhi approaches its electoral cycle, the struggle shifts: old politics versus new transparency.
Voters are now equipped to compare pledges with proof, budgets with blueprints. Azad’s rise suggests that a 27-year-old armed with camera footage, spreadsheets, RTI data, and public engagement can shape civic outcomes more directly than traditional campaigns. His true challenge lies ahead: can this model of grassroots auditing drive sustained reform? Can it shift the narrative from promises to proof from slogans to substantiation?
In Delhi today, evidence speaks louder than speeches and transparency is emerging as the new currency of power.
