The Hindu : New Delhi News : `Mini Atal' BJP's star campaigner

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 08, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

`Mini Atal' BJP's star campaigner

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, MAY 7. Atal Shakti, as the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is often referred to within the party, might not make an appearance on the political scene of the Capital in the run-up to polling day, but his absence is certainly being made up by "Mini Atal'' who has been addressing a series of meetings across Delhi and other parts of the country.

At a time when film stars seem to have taken over the campaigns of the political parties, another individual indulging in theatrics is making waves in the BJP. Meet Sumit Aggarwal, referred to as "Mini Atal'', who has been unleashed by the party to address several public meetings across the country. In the Capital to address election meetings in various Lok Sabha constituencies, "Mini Atal'' takes to the stage before the main speakers and has the crowd in splits. He imitates the Prime Minister in gestures as well as speech and speaks about the issues affecting the country, lacing his speech with the line "Yeh achchi baat nahin hai''. He makes liberal use of the common phrases used by Mr. Vajpayee in his speeches inside or outside Parliament. His facial expressions are very like those of Mr. Vajpayee. Even the local BJP leaders are enjoying this latest addition to the campaign and as the word spreads about this new Atal on the political scene, more and more requests are pouring in for his appearances.

"Mini Atal'' is in full demand in the Capital and the candidates are wanting him to address meetings in various pockets. In fact, at the public meeting addressed here by the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K.Advani, "Mini Atal'' made a passionate appeal to the voters to give a decisive mandate to the NDA. Interestingly, he spoke before Mr. Advani and had the crowds clapping and demanding more. "Although this does not make up for the absence of Mr. Vajpayee from Delhi campaign, but it is enough to remind the voters about his message and commitment,'' a senior BJP leader stated.

A resident of Ranikhet in Uttaranchal, Sumit Aggarwal, 22, son of a fruit merchant, was inducted into the political scene at the age of seven. Ironically, he recalls that it was Mr. Advani who had named him "Mini Atal'' after listening to him and watching him imitate Mr. Vajpayee. Till date, he has addressed nearly 1,500 public meetings across the country. "I went to Ayodhya in 1989 and that is where the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Kalyan Singh, spotted me and enrolled me for the BJP campaign,'' he remarks.

He has also shared stage with the Prime Minister and has spoken at 20 of the meetings in the presence of Mr. Vajpayee. In the present Lok Sabha polls, the party has used him in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Delhi to address public meetings. In fact, he claims that he was also attacked during a public meeting at Surankote in Poonch district of Jammu region. "Atalji is my idol. I have followed him throughout my life and he has asked me to continue with the good work,'' Sumit claims.

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