NEW DELHI: The day for AAP's New Delhi candidate, Ashish Khetan these days starts at 5.30am, over tea and a brief meeting to plan the day. They then head to a neighborhood park in their constituency to chit chat with joggers and morning walkers. The rest of the day is spent in rigorous campaigning through colonies and slums on bikes, cars or on foot. Khetan seems to be trying to make up for his anonymity by being extra visible.
"Our campaigns are simple but we make sure that we visit every mohalla and talk to people on the streets," he says. On Thursday too, Khetan was out early networking with traders and shoppers at Khanna market. Then they set out for what they call a "road show"-two autos with loud speakers playing patriotic film songs, Arvind Kejriwal's recorded voice explaining why he quit as CM, volunteers distributing flyers with Khetan's profile and Khetan himself waving out of a car or motorbike. They stop briefly at some places and talk to supporters about local issues. Khetan had road shows at Patel Nagar, Rajinder Nagar and Naraina gaon in the evening on Thursday.
With marigold garlands around his neck but not the usual starched kurta, Khetan doesn't look the part entirely. His casual clothing and easy ways seem to blend him with the crowd. He leaves the car and takes a supporter's bike instead midway to do his rounds. "This morning someone asked me what I was doing. I told him I am a candidate. He said you look like aam admi and not a candidate," he told a small group of people who had gathered around him at Naraina.
"I think we are being innovative by not structuring our campaign. We make sure that we go to all areas of the constituency. On the way we have breakfast and lunch at any of our supporter's homes," says Khetan. "We are lightweight too. We can manage in tempos, rickshaws, bikes any transport," he adds laughing.
Khetan's team is confident that such diligent campaigning will give him an edge. "Do you see Congress or BJP people campaigning on the roads? Not so much. That's because they are either over confident or lost confidence. Most of their campaigning is high profile through advertisements or expensive events. We don't think that works," says Rajeev Kumar of Khetan's team. The 7 AAP MLAs are also helping them hold public meetings in the constituency. Swirling through Naraina's roads volunteers distribute badges and AAP topis.
Rickshaw walahs, street urchins and hawkers run to grab them. "There is full support from us for Khetan. We will make sure that Modi goes back to Gujarat. AAP will get votes from the poor. They appear honest and don't spend on unnecessary things. BJP and Congress spend so much because they have already looted us," says Md Ansari, a rickshaw puller. His friend, Gyan, a cobbler in Naraina says he can't stand watching Modi on TV. "Why are they showing him all the time? Is he already PM? Our brother Kejriwal will win. We wish him all the success," he says pinning the AAP badge on his shirt.
There are many critics too. "AAP has lost the track. It was wrong decision to step down from Delhi government. What will they do in centre? How will the country fight corruption without stability? These questions should be asked to AAP leaders," says Deepak Tanwar, an advocate at Tees Hazari court.
Their conversation with supporters on streets is mainly about local issues, lack of sanitation, poor water supply, BJP ruled MCD's failure in managing solid waste, pension problems and others. They also seem to prioritize lower middle class localities and slums for daily campaigns.
(With inputs from Vineet Upadhyay)
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