Mallika in BJP’s den, interesting but...

Mallika Sarabhai, independent candidate
Noted danseuse Mallika Sarabhai is contesting as an Independent candidate from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. In her declaration on a group — Friends for Democracy — on Facebook, she says: I contest as a Gujarati and a patriotic Indian to reclaim politics back from politicians. I am not a third force but I have an alternative view of politics which wants to claim democracy back for the people.

I am standing from Gandhinagar but I think I also represent the women of Mangalore, the peasants of Nandigram, the farmers of Yavatmal, the victims of Kandhamal.
You might ask why now. My answer is that it is already getting late and politicians are stealing our parties from us. I am a local person and I am here to fight local problems. I want to return to my constituency the gift of identity and community it has given me.

‘Friends for Democracy’ is a collective of individuals and groups who believe that it is time to redefine what politics has come to mean in our country. This collective supports Mallika in her candidature and have faith in her vision, mission and what she stands for.
Earlier, she had told DNA: “The environment is increasingly getting murkier, the society more divided along communal lines. The time to speak out is now. I want people to get involved in politics, and youngsters to understand issues before they vote.”

Gandhinagar, she claims is her home, as she was born and brought up here. “I speak their language. I am grounded here. Over the next few weeks, I will learn more about their problems and issues, and fight the election with them. Everyone will vote for me. I believe anyone who believes in the values of democracy will vote for me. I have never stepped back from a just fight,” she said.

“The people of Gujarat have been manipulated and intimidated by the powers-that-be for years. I am not siding with any political party as there is no political party in India which is free of criminalisation, corruption and bickering,” she said.

Taking a dig at Advani, Sarabhai said it was her privilege that she was contesting against a ‘prime minister-in-waiting’. Since 1984, various parties had invited her to contest the polls on their ticket but she always said no. “However, after 24 years, it’s the people of Gujarat who have urged me to contest the polls,” she said.

I am appealing to everyone who is against the politics of hatred, divisiveness and exclusion to join me - people, groups and parties.
(As posted on ‘Friends for Democracy’, and reported in DNA)

Lal Krishna Advani, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate
LK Advani, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, was too busy to talk about the work he has done in his constituency. An aide provided information about how Advani had spent his MPLAD fund.

In spending the fund, Advani's focus has been on building assets. “The basic principle we followed was that money should be given for works that will help create assets for the region. Money should not be spent merely on roads, gutters or other such works that should be taken up by the civic body,” said the aide. Also, the fund is not given to private institutions.

In rural areas, about 80 per cent of the spend has been on providing bus shelters, crematoriums, schools and ensuring water supply for the residents. “Advani's policy in spending his MPLAD funds was that Re1 should be spent per voter. Advani is one of the few MPs who have spent not only the MP Fund but also the interest accrued on the savings,” said the aide.

He said in the healthcare sector, different types of medical equipment had been obtained for the civil hospital in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. Advani sanctioned a children’s and burns ward in the Ahmedabad civil hospital and a CHC in Rupal village and a PHC in Chandkheda.

Apart from this, rescue boats have been given to AMC, ambulances to the fire brigade,  gyms and sports complexes have been opened in different areas, a senior citizens park has been built on Sola Road, the biotechnology department building has been built at Gujarat University, the Kidney research institute has been provided with a cadaver van and three lake development projects are underway at Ghodasar, Asarwa and Malau.
Asked about the reasons for Advani’s win from the constituency, the aide said all sections of voters have voted for him. “His popularity is not limited to a particular section or community,” he said.

This time around, since Advani is busy campaigning throughout the country, his family is chipping in for him. His wife Kamala, daughter Pratibha, son Jayant and his wife Geetika are going door-to-door and asking people to vote for Advani.  
—Urvashi Dev Rawal

Suresh Patel, Congress candidate
A unique thing about Suresh Patel, a two-time MLA from Kalol who has been fielded by the Congress to take on LK Advani from Gandhinagar parliamentary constituency, is that about 300 members of his family and relatives, including wife and two sons, settled down in the US years ago. His sons are running stores in Georgia and his kin have businesses including gas stations and motels. He resides in India alone and is active in politics since 1987. Once in a year, he goes to the US to renew his green card. 

That, according to Patel, is his strength. “I do not have any livelihood problem; therefore, I am able to serve the people of my constituency with utmost sincerity.”
Patel resides alone in Paliad village under Kalol taluka. “I have been living alone in Kalol for years and serving the society. People around me are my family and I try to address all their problems. I am not available only for a period of about one month in the year when I go to the US for renewal of my green card; else I am always available at Kalol,” he says.

He won the assembly election for the first time from Kalol in 1998. In 2002, he lost, but again won the seat in 2007 with a margin of 5,400 votes. He is confident of giving a tough fight to Advani. “I have a unique style of working and being in constant contact with common man. Twice in a year, I go to meet people of every village,” he says.
—Nikunj Soni