‘Advaniji needs to rest now’

The independent candidate for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, Mallika Sarabhai's election campaign swept Amdavadis off their feet on Saturday evening as popular Bollywood actor Om Puri accompanied the danseuse in her door-to-door campaign for votes.

Later in the evening, Puri addressed a public meeting in Ranip, where he urged the junta to vote for a responsible candidate. In addition, he also advised LK Advani to retire.

When they began their campaign in Vejalpur, they were accompanied by only 50 supporters. But, their convoy turned into well over a hundred by the time it ended an hour later. The cavalcade of young performing artists and activists walked about four km through the dusty bylanes between Vejalpur to Juhapura.

After the canvassing culminated in Juhapura, Puri took charge on a makeshift stage and announced that though he has campaigned for Congress in the past, he wouldn't do it in Gandhinagar. Praising Mallika, he said, "Mallika is not just a dancer and actress, but she is a brilliant human being who is sensitive to things happening around her. She is someone who takes a stand whenever it is necessary. Despite my soft spot for Congress, I won't campaign for the party here."

"Young people must come forward to vote and join politics if they want to save the country from criminal parliamentarians and ministers. We must choose people carefully as 30% of the parliamentarians are criminals," he said.

Slogans like 'Phool nahi chingari hai, Bharat ki nari hai, Mallika Sarabhai' and 'Gujarat ki nari hai Mallika Sarabhai' livened up the campaign. The supporters were carrying banners and placards with 'Aao Lakeerein Mitaayein' written on them. "I would like to eradicate the line of control which has broadened the differences between the two communities," she said. Stepping into the New Famous Bakery in Juhapura, she and Om Puri shook hands with people inside the bakery. "We would like to spread sweetness in the society, just like you," Puri told the baker.

Anahita Sarabhai who has been actively participating in campaigning from the beginning said, "The idea of the campaign is inclusiveness; one can see that people from all walks of life have come and joined the rally without any hesitance. This is exactly what the message of this campaign — the society should be seen without any prejudice."

In Ranip, Puri reiterated that he does not believe in sloganeering but believes in the power of interacting with people. Pointing at a train passing through a railway track close to where the rally was being held, the veteran actor said, "Your current politicians are like these trains, who never stop here, till elections come. If you want a leader who comes to you more often, elect Mallika."

The danseuse herself promised people that they were free to confront her if she did not perform well.