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The 49-year Vijendra Gupta has literally taken the battle for the New Delhi constituency to the three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s backyard. Here tucked between Lutyen Delhi’s bungalows and gardens, Gupta is addressing a public meeting in a dhobi ghat, where even the chief minister sends her clothes for washing.
Dressed in a starched white kurta-pyjama, it is late evening by the time Gupta arrives. Few recognise him, as he walks into their homes -- surrounded by around a dozen BJP workers and a portable loudspeaker.
Gupta is an outsider in this constituency. A denizen of the old city, he is constantly smiling to make new friends and influence people. He accepts he isn’t an expert, but wears a brave face by saying he is ready to do anything for the party.
With folded hands, he asks for support. His requests for votes are greeted with requests in return: Demands of a better home, his help in settling a family dispute or some favour in getting a government job.
Gupta doesn’t promise a thing, just a brief nod. And then continues to move to the next house.
The journey continues. Spending few minutes in each locality, then a hop in his SUV and another area. The drill is repeated, he refers to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, argues what Narendra Modi can do if he becomes the prime minister, but never once mentions the chief ministerial candidate of his party, Harsh Vardhan.
Gupta is selling two points. He is asking: why choose a chief minister who has no time for her own constituency. And, second, the burden of price rise under Congress government.
In another part of the Delhi as Gupta concludes his talk, a six-member convoy of Dikshit screeches through the narrow lanes of eastern Delhi’s, Seelampur. Being a chief minister for 15 years come to her aid. As she arrives at 8:30 in the evening, she finds a waiting crowd.
Dressed in a cream cotton saree and Nike shoes, Dikshit climbs the stage. Her security pours water, as she wipes her face. Meanwhile, the local leader prepares the ground for Dikshit to speak. And sensing the crowd in swell, she leaps from her seat and grabs the mike.
“You can't realise how much Delhi has changed. But ask anyone who visits Delhi after a decade and he will you how much we have developed,” she says. Dikshit is selling her development agenda. The success of her government in building flyovers and metro. She questions the rhetoric of the BJP around price rise, but like Gupta, chooses to ignore Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader who is the elephant in the room.
In 15-minutes, Dikshit achieves a lot. She attacks the BJP, praises the Congress, snubs the local MLA for arriving late, cheers with the crowd and then climbs in her car. The convoy heads home.
The style is different, but the message is the same: elect us for we are the best !
