Meet the war room managers of nominees
The rough and tumble of election campaigning can be a lonely road. However, the four major candidates vying to be the Chandigarh MP mercifully agree on this single point that their spouses are the most important and trusted aides who help them handle the myriad pressures.
The rough and tumble of election campaigning can be a lonely road. However, the four major candidates vying to be the Chandigarh MP mercifully agree on this single point that their spouses are the most important and trusted aides who help them handle the myriad pressures.
Apart from taking care of the mundane in their absence, the better halves have taken charge of back-room planning and are even strategising and campaigning for the candidates.
For Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Kirron Kher and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Gul Panag their husbands are based in Mumbai, yet the two say that the support they provide is immeasurable.
Gul says that husband Gurshivinder Singh Attari has streamlined the campaign strategy. A commercial pilot, Gurshivinder, has meticulously planned Panag’s meeting schedules, agendas and campaign strategy at a board at their Sector-34 house.
“He is a constant source of inspiration and has supportive of me the entire life.”
For Kirron, her husband Anupam Kher regularly commutes between Mumbai and Chandigarh and was with her, when she was shown black flags by disgruntled BJP workers at the airport.
Anupam’s car could not escape the eggs and stones hurled on his car and was seen doting at her before leaving for Mumbai and is scheduled to come back on April 2.
He is canvassing for her on Facebook and Twitter and will campaign for about a week in the city, during roadshows.
Kirron says: “He is guiding me.” Kirron says he is just a phone call away, and ready to give me that pep talk when she is exhausted with the tiring campaign.
For Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Jannat Jahan, her husband Hafiz-Anwar-Ul-Haq is the trusted aide. He is the one who holds meetings, chalks out strategies and fixes campaign meetings and road shows. He is also known to give suggestions on her speech.
Jannat says: “I could not have even dreamt of becoming a politician, if Hafiz ji would not have supported me. He is the one who encourages and pushes me, even if I am completely drained out.”
“He knows the next day’s complete plan and also takes care of children when I am busy campaigning.”
“I see a lot of positive energy in Jannat and I know she serve the city people in aselflessmanner,” said Haq.
Even though all the three women are banking on their husbands for support and encouragement, sitting member parliament Pawan Kumar Bansal’s wife Madhu Bansal remains a rock of support.
From listening to people’s grievances at her Sector 28 residence, attending public meetings to being the ‘biggest support’ during election times, campaigning days are for Madhu Bansal.
Madhu also manages the sitting MP’s office in Chandigarh, when he is in Delhi.
