Aam Aadmi Party takes the lead in campaigning

Amit Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 13

While two mainstream parties, the BJP and the Congress, are yet to decide their candidates for the 17th Lok Sabha elections in Chandigarh, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmohan Dhawan has already kicked off his campaign. Interestingly, Dhawan’s family has come out for campaigning in the city and they are meeting voters.

Dhawan (78), who was declared as AAP contender for the Lok Sabha elections in January, is already done with the first round of campaigning in villages. He has already met the representatives of resident welfare associations (RWA).

Dhawan, who has always garnered support from colonies and slums, says by the time other parties will finalise the names of their candidates, he will have covered the villages as well.

“I have already constituted booth-level committees to sensitise voters to the party’s ideology and reasons why they should vote for me,” said Dhawan.

Dhawan’s family, especially his wife Satinder Dhawan and elder son Bikram Dhawan, has already taken the baton. Satinder and Bikram have their schedules planned for this week according to which they are going out to meet the voters.

On Wednesday, Bikram campaigned at the Sector 7 market, while Satinder went for door-to-door campaigning at Dariya village.

Harmohan Dhawan, former Union Minister, is aware of the challenges ahead. He admits that there were lesser activities of AAP leaders and workers in the city in the past five years.

“My old supporters in the city have been mobilised after my name was announced for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat. Together we will work hard and win the elections,” claims Dhawan, who had contested the Lok Sabha elections from the BSP in 2009.

First round of campaigning over

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmohan Dhawan (78), who was declared as AAP contender for the Lok Sabha elections in January, is already done with the first round of campaigning in villages. He has already met the representatives of resident welfare associations (RWA).

Last year’s report card

AAP made its debut in Chandigarh during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, with Gulkirat Kaur Panag as its candidate. She managed to secure 1,08,679 votes which was 23.97 per cent of the total votes polled. She stood third in the elections.