Pitted against heavyweights,BSP’s Bhardwaj banks on community service

His campaign begins at 6 am when he visits various parks,gyms and yoga centres to catch the early birds. After an endless row of public meetings and road shows,he retires well after midnight.

Friday is very important as Bhardwaj’s campaign is around Dwarka and Janakpuri,the strongholds of the Congress and the BJP respectively.

Bhardwaj,however,is not too bothered. Accompanied by around 100 party workers,he begins his ‘morning round’ across the unauthorised pockets and the slums of Madipur.

“The residents have been living in neglect. There is no supply of clean drinking water,the drains are clogged with sewage and there is no supply of regular electricity,” Bhardwaj says.

“If voted to power,I will ensure you get clean drinking water immediately. Your other problems will also be addressed,” he tells the crowd. The morning round is followed by a five-hour lunch break.

“It gets too hot after 11 am and the residents do not come out to attend public meetings. Our next round begins only after 4 pm,” Bhardwaj says.

Dismissing reports that he has not been campaigning enough,he says that he believes in the quality of the campaign.

“Other leaders are simply hopping from one place to another waving at the crowds. It is important to meet people,to sit among them and develop a connect.”

In Palam and Mahavir Enclave in the Dwarka Assembly constituency,a large crowd has gathered to greet Bhardwaj and party workers in a fleet of cars. “You have seen how other political parties have exploited your interests for their gains. You have also seen my commitment to the people. The Shiksha Bharati School that I have been running in Palam has been educating many poor students free of cost,” he tells the crowd.

In areas like Janakpuri and Hari Nagar that have good infrastructure,Bhardwaj prefers to concentrate on ‘different issues’. He tells residents he will revolutionise the education system and propagate alternative methods of development. “Like China,we need to train our workforce and turn them into assets,so that they draw work from abroad,” said the realty tycoon,who is the country’s second richest candidate in this election,with assets worth Rs 604 crore.

“The two major political parties have done nothing for your welfare. It is time to move on from life-long party loyalty and evaluate the candidate on his capabilities and past record,” he tells residents of Janakpuri.