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Lok Sabha elections 2019: Harsh Vardhan asks Chandni Chowk to vote for PM Modi
Prepping for the doorstep campaigning, party workers went through a list of slogans with the favourites emerging as ‘Lakshya Hamara, Modi Dobara’ and ‘Dr Sahab ki kya pehchan, saaf chhavi aur kamal nishan’.
The narrow lanes of Paharganj’s Multani Dhandha in Central Delhi were abuzz with election activity on Friday morning. An old loudspeaker belted patriotic songs outside the local BJP party office as supporters wearing NaMo T-shirts and saffron caps gathered with dhol wallahs; they held garlands and waved flags as two men pondered over the ideal route for BJP’s sitting MP and Chandni Chowk candidate Harsh Vardhan to kick-start his election campaign.
Prepping for the doorstep campaigning, party workers went through a list of slogans with the favourites emerging as ‘Lakshya Hamara, Modi Dobara’ and ‘Dr Sahab ki kya pehchan, saaf chhavi aur kamal nishan’.
An ENT surgeon by training, the Union environment minister was welcomed with a dozen garlands, which almost covered his face.
Followed by a posse of security personnel, the BJP candidate stopped to click selfies with children and young men and women. He walked up to people’s doorsteps, appealing them to make “Modiji win again with a high number of votes”. “Please vote for Modiji this time as well,” Vardhan said to an elderly woman with folded hands. She nodded in agreement.
“He got us a community hall after 70 years. Also, two schools that were running from tin sheds are now proper buildings. He has done work here,” said Sarita Devi, 51, who offered sweets to the four-time MLA from east Delhi’s Krishna Nagar.
Moolchand, 55, who owns a shop that sells items needed for last rites said, however, said he had seen Vardhan for the first time in the area.
“I have been a BJP voter. People in this area have been voting for BJP in the past. But I have seen the MP for the first time here since he won the election in 2014,” said a Moolchand, who was smiling after Vardhan visited his shop and shook hands with him.
Caught in the middle of the trail by a television channel and questioned about the party’s chances of coming to power again, the BJP MP replied, “All seven seats will go to BJP”.
“There are party workers in every other house in this area. At least 150 people signed up to garland him. All votes in the area are assured for him,” said one of the organisers. Part of the Ballimaran assembly , Paharganj is home to traders and the city’s largest wholesale market.
