Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Mallika’s campaign on camel catches the eye

— PHOTO: RAJU. V

Congress candidate in Vijayawada West Assembly constituency Mallika Begum joins the crowd in merry-making during her election campaign near Milk Factory in Vijayawada on Saturday.

VIJAYAWADA: Congress candidate Mallika Begum, who is fighting an intense battle in Vijayawada West Assembly constituency against her party rebel and candidates of the CPI and the Praja Rajyam, seems to depend solely on development plank to see her through.

Ms. Begum’s campaign is marked by her emphasis on the various benefits extended to people during the five-year rule of the Congress and during her own tenure as mayor.

It was no different on Saturday. The residential lanes in One Town buzzed with election activity with Ms. Begum taking up door-to-door campaign along with party leaders and workers. Along with the party’s Vijayawada Parliamentary constituency candidate Lagadapati Rajagopal, she campaigned by riding a camel, instantly catching the attention of passers-by. It was preceded by a road show at Poornanandampeta.

Ms. Begum knocks on every possible door in the constituency, unlike her opponents, who just march through the lanes. She keeps flashing a heart-warming smile. Either the local corporator of her party or any other leader introduces her to people as the Congress candidate for the Assembly elections. She quickly strikes a chord with them and urges them to support her to accomplish their dreams.

She does not hesitate to prepare a dosa at a roadside eatery, or lend a helping hand to a flower vendor sitting in front of a temple. She freely mingles with petty traders, push-cart vendors, and, of course, local residents. She does not leave any stone unturned to come close to them. When somebody recalls that she served as mayor, Ms. Begum uses the opportunity and asks them to vote for “development”. Party workers following her thrust pamphlets in the hands of people.

Ms. Begum, sometimes, forgets her day’s plan and goes berserk with her door-to-door campaign. When the party corporator or a leader would be waiting at a particular point, she would have deflected from the campaign plan and entered into another lane, puzzling the local leaders.

Asking her whether people would vote for her brings a very confident answer: “The entire One Town is supporting my candidature. You have seen the overwhelming response.”

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