In Rajkot West, where biggies Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Congress's billionaire candidate Indranil Rajguru are contesting each other, the campaign scene is not all dominated by party workers. The two have their own children doing the legwork for the dads.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Rupani's son Rushabh and Rajguru's daughter Darshnil are far frequent visitors to their constituency than their fathers.

Rushabh who is pursuing engineering from Nirma University in Ahmedabad has shifted base to Rajkot these days.

Starting from social media campaigns, to door-to-door visits to meet voters, to mobilisation of young party workers and drawing other poll strategies, they are all overseen by Rushabh.

Rushabh, who never took interest in politics earlier — Rupani never contested Assembly polls and contested only the Assembly bypolls in 2014, and that was a sure victory for him.

A BJP leader from Rajkot said, "Rushabh is managing every small detail related to polls as Vijaybhai is away. We and our organisation are working on our own strategy, but Rushabh has a different perspective. He and his cousin, Amey, have been taking care of the social media campaign and other canvassing. He also makes slogans that are appealing to the public." When asked about his campaign work, Rushabh shies away.

Like Rushabh, Darshneel, too, was never involved in any poll before this.

Talking to DNA, she said, "I am doing this with special interest. I am managing different events of poll campaign, social media campaign and road shows. I am pursuing my graduation course from Indira Gandhi National Open University, but have made time to help my father with his campaign."

Indranil has several Congress youth workers in his team. Darshneel is a motivation for them.

Harshit Jani, a party member, says, "Darshneel is managing everything here. From top to bottom and left to right, she is present everywhere. We are also charged by seeing her enthusiasm, and we have her guidance."