This candidate campaigned on foot despite the heat

It would not be a surprise for the candidates to campaign on an open-top jeep given the day-time heat in Bengaluru.

But one of them surprised his voters by ambling along the streets of his constituency oblivious to the heat. S Suresh Kumar, the BJP candidate and sitting MLA of Rajajinagar, walked around the by-lanes of Thimmaiah Road in Shivanagar ward to meet his constituents.

With his portrait perched in the open-top car beside the party symbol, nearly 30 party workers marched along the vehicle. The retinue followed Kumar, who began his campaign at 7 am soliciting votes from the people walking along the road.

Rajajinagar residents exchanged wishes with Kumar with an open assurance that they would vote for him. Some of them explained him the issues they face and got an assurance that they would be fixed.

Kumar visited the residents of the sick and ailing voters to check on their health. He asked them to turn up at the booth to cast their votes on May 12.

Kumar was joined on the campaign by BJP leader R Ashok. Both the leaders paused and shook hands with voters as they marched on. Also joining the candidate on the campaign trail were BK Abdul Azeez and Syed Umar Farooq, members of a local mosque.

“We’re supporting the party because of Kumar. We appreciate the work he has done here and want him to be voted back. The mosque we represent did not restrict us from campaigning for him. We’ve always supported him and his work,” Azeez said.

Perspiring in the heat, Kumar stopped at a bakery and was immediately offered a glass of tea. The candidate passed on the tea glasses to the workers who walked with him since morning.

Speaking to DH, Kumar said his work is citizen-oriented and not contract-oriented, unlike his much-respected opponent G Padmavathi of the Congress. Regarding the Okalipuram corridor, Kumar assured the work will be completed by October. Despite the area not coming under his own constituency –it belongs to the Gandhi Nagar constituency— he said he would get the work done because many from his constituency are using it.

More than anything else, Kumar said he wanted the voters to turn out in large numbers on polling day.