Not just Purvanchalis, Delhi BJP wants more communities in campaign net

A senior party leader said the Delhi BJP has also held meetings with people from Uttarakhand, and plans to address those from Jharkhand, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, among others.“Delhi is a metropolis in the truest sense, where people from all states live in large numbers. But because the focus had been on a few communities, others felt ignored. The Delhi unit wants that their voices are not just heard, but they also get representation in power,” Delhi BJP media head Pratyush Kanth said.

A senior leader of the BJP said that after the announcement of candidates in the first week of April, the party leaders will bring Bhojpuri actors to draw crowds. While their focus will largely be on the North East and East constituencies, which have a sizeable Purvanchali population, regional actors from Haryana will mostly campaign in the West and South constituencies.

The name of Haryanvi performer Sapna Chaudhary has also been doing the rounds as a campaign probable after photographs emerged of her meeting Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari. “I have always said we would want a star like her to join or campaign for us, but whether she will be joining or not is her call,” Tiwari said.

Kanth said, “Why just Sapna, we would love to have other popular Haryanvi stars to campaign for us as well. The kind of reception they receive in bordering areas is much more than a Bollywood star will get.”

Sapna Chaudhary did not respond to calls and texts seeking comment.

While there’s nothing new about roping in star campaigners, the focus on faces that can draw Purvanchali crowds has increased ever since Tiwari took charge in November 2016.