India, Jan. 31 -- In the narrow, crowded lanes of Old Rajendra Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar, thousands of students chase the dream of joining India's elite civil services. They have reshaped entire localities, transformed local economies, and turned Delhi into the epicentre of the coaching industry.

But despite their numbers, IAS aspirants remain invisible in the city's electoral landscape. While the majority of them are migrants who do not vote in Delhi, the ones who do stay here echoed a list of common concerns, which they said resonate across the city's student community.

As the city heads to the polls on February 5, these young men and women - who pour billions into Delhi's economy - remain a quiet voice in shaping its governance.

On ...