Early to rise makes for good politicking, believe BJP rebels

These sitting councillors-turned-BJP rebels believe in waking up early. It's healthy not just for the body, but for politicking too, the five believe. Hamari Jamatia reports.

These sitting councillors-turned-BJP rebels believe in waking up early. It's healthy not just for the body, but for politicking too, the five believe.

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Reason: Fresh from their good night sleep and in the best of moods, morning walkers and yoga enthusiasts make for good target audiences, they say. Nearly every day, these councillors wake up early to go to the park, catch people there and ask them to vote in their favour.

Since these leaders have been associated with the BJP and its lotus symbol for years now, their biggest challenge is to dissociate themselves from the party and register their election symbols in the minds of supporters.

"The state election commission (SEC) has given different symbols to different people. So we have to carry our election symbol with us and give out pamphlets to make sure our supporters do not end up voting for the lotus symbol," said Prabha Singh, a contender from New Ashok Nagar. Her election symbol is a sewing machine and she carries one around everywhere, even to the parks.

In Rithala, Harish Awasti and his team of about 50 supporters walk around with battery-operated torch lights, his election symbol, asking for votes. "I wake up at 6.15am and visit neighbourhood parks with my supporters. A lot of people gather there. It's a great start to a day of campaigning," he said.

Preeti, who goes by a single name only and is a rebel contender from East of Kailash, can be seen carrying around a 2.5litre gas cylinder, her poll symbol. Also, 40-odd supporters of the party have also chosen to contest against BJP after being denied tickets. Their teams have decided to help each other and visit each other's wards for votes.