Somaiya pulls out all stops

MUMBAI, SEPT 3: Kirit Somaiya, the BJP contender for the Lok Sabha seat from the north-east constituency is interacting with people from ...

MUMBAI, SEPT 3: Kirit Somaiya, the BJP contender for the Lok Sabha seat from the north-east constituency is interacting with people from dawn to dusk to stack the odds in his favour.

Winning in this constituency with its voter population pegged at 19.5 lakh is not an easy task as Gurudas Kamath, veteran Congressman who had defeated Pramod Mahajan by over 50,000 votes from the same constituency last year is a daunting rival. Somaiya8217;s slim chance of winning is personal interaction8217; resulting in his hectic campaigning on foot, raths, and trains.

Attempts to reach out to voters spread over Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Bhandup, Mulund, Powai, Saki Naka and Chembur has his day beginning by 6 am.

On Thursday, for instance, Somaiya was interacting with CST-bound commuters at the Vikhroli station at 6.30 am. 8220;I am trying to reach as many people as possible. In fact I must be seeing 10,000 people and personally meeting with 3,000 people,8221; said Somaiya. The personal meeting, however, is limited to a handshakeor a pat on the head.

From Vikhroli, the campaign trail paced to the slums in Bhandup where Somaiya undertook a rathyatra on a motorised tempo. Next stop 8211; inaugurating a BJP local ward office at Ghatkopar. From there, he undertook more personal interaction sessions in Chembur 8211; and all this before noon.

A quick lunch at a local BJP party worker8217;s home was followed by a meeting with Godrej workers at Vikhroli station who were returning to Bhandup, Tulshet Pada and Konkan Nagar. By 7 pm he was adressing the influential union of autorickshaw and tempo drivers at Saki Naka junction. He went on to cover Tunga Gaon and Powai lake areas before finally calling it a day.

8220;Most of the educated middle class voters have asked why the LS elections are an annual feature 8212; to this I have the ready reply that the BJP proposes to have a stable government on the lines of the German democratic set up,8221; commented Somaiya.

Story continues below this ad

Apart from national issues, including Kargil and the Italian8217; Congress connection,Somaiya is also hearing out local problems like water, roads, toilets in slums, and better train services. 8220;One of my campaign themes is to have only 12-coach trains on the central railway, instead of 9-coach ones. And being the president of Investor Grievances Forum, I am also having the support of businessmen and other investors,8221; he remarked.

However, the voters, who will have the last say on this electoral battle between Kamath and Somaiya are offering flowers and garlands to both with equal gusto.