Harsh Vardhan, Delhi BJP chief and party’s candidate from Chandni Chowk constituency, is a veteran of many battles but his current Lok Sabha contest is special.
“I am returning to my roots and trying to contribute in the mission to make Narendra Modi the next prime minister,” says the 59-year-old practicing doctor.
“I was born in a lane at Fatak Teliyan near Turkman Gate. I played in the laps of Muslims and grew up playing cricket with my friends from the neighbourhood in Ramlila Maidan,” he says.
Spending almost 18 hours a day in campaigning and helping party colleagues in other constituencies, Harsh Vardhan is enthused by the response he is getting. “The response has been overwhelming to say the least,” he says, pointing at the support offered to him by voters across communities and age groups.
High on confidence after his party’s good showing in the Assembly election, Harsh Vardhan has no doubt about the outcome of the April 10 Lok Sabha poll. “I am in the contest to win.”
“I am thankful to the party to have given me a chance to defeat the so-called heavyweights from the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party,” says the five-time legislator from Krishna Nagar.
The 59-year-old ENT specialist, popularly known as “Doctor Saab”, says the people of the constituency complain that the sitting MP and Congress candidate Kapil Sibal comes to the area only during elections.
“If you get 10 years in government both at the Centre and the state and still if you do not do anything for the people, they are going to complain,” says Harsh Vardhan.
Apart from the national issues, the BJP leader says, the local problems do matter in parliamentary elections as an MP’s performance is evaluated by the people on the basis of what he does for them.
He says the poor condition of the constituency was shocking. “Chandni Chowk is the pride of the country. But under the Congress rule the area has turned into a slum.”
“After winning the elections, I will ensure scientific development of the area without disturbing the historical character,” he says, promising modern transport facilities, restoration of schools and solution to the problems of butcher families’ linked to the shifting of the slaughterhouse to east Delhi.
Relying mostly on padyatras, Harsh Vardhan has been meeting people in their colonies and commercial centres. “I want to make residents and traders partners in development. I would want people to play a constructive role in development and solving problems.”
The practicing doctor also highlights his agenda of generating more jobs and encouraging youths to take up self-employment.
He admits that AAP cannot be ignored but says people had now seen the anarchic and lawless activities of the party which failed miserably on delivering on its promises during its 49-day rule in Delhi.
People should not take seriously the false promises made by AAP candidate who has turned a politician from a journalist, he says in a reference to AAP's Ashutosh. “The AAP stands on falsehood and its secret agenda is to split the country.”
Asked about response of Muslim voters, Harsh Vardhan says: “I do not look at people with a prism that differentiates between them on the basis of religion. For me, all voters are equal and all of them are pledging support to me.”