Mehendi man appeals to women

He has no banners, posters or even loudspeakers to campaign with. Nor can he afford an open jeep like the other candidates contesting the election. But clad in a spotless white shirt and trousers, Surinder Kumar Yadav and his supporters go from house to house applying mehendi on the hands of the women.

They don8217;t make multiple patterns, only a palanquin, Yadav8217;s election symbol, and appeal to the women to vote for him come November 29. Surinder is a famous mehendiwala of Tilak Nagar market. He has also been a worker of the Lok Janshakti Party. 8220;I wanted to contest elections for the LJP but the party was demanding money that I could not afford, so I decided to stand as an independent,8221; he says. The Tilak Nagar market has 31 mehendiwalas and Yadav says all of them are with him. 8220;I don8217;t have funds like other politicians but these mehendiwalas are my strength. They have been going around in the area, applying mehandi and asking people to vote. All of them have closed their shops and are helping me in my campaign. Mehendiwalas from Lajpat Nagar and Rajouri Garden will also be coming to support me,8221; Yadav says.

Unlike other candidates who come with big promises, Yadav has none. But he says he will apply mehendi for free in all weddings and occasions like Karva Chauth and Raksha Bandhan.