Buttermilk, fruits, yoghurt and light meals are keeping the candidates energetic and fresh as they brave the baking heat and dust on the campaign trail. However, not all of them are relying on just a healthy diet to keep fit as some of them are including yoga to boost their energy levels to keep up with their grueling daily schedule.
The Pioneer tried to unravel the mysterious combination of ascending levels of energy with advancing years as the average age of the candidates is over 50.
Dream Girl of yesteryears Hema Malini, who is adding glamour to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign in western Uttar Pradesh (UP) and is currently busy campaigning in Mathura, is surviving the heat and dust by sticking to a diet of lemonade and cut fruits. Captain Malik who is accompanying Hema Malini told The Pioneer: “She is sticking to a diet of lemonade, cut fruits and non-greasy meals that consist of simple fare like vegetables and dal. The heat is really bad and is making campaigning very difficult.”
Anita Aggarwal, media in-charge of BJP, UP said that the mantra behind maintain good health and energy levels was light meals and the laiya chana (puffed rice and gram) that the candidates kept handy with them on the campaign trail.
“Those who are campaigning are imbibing huge quantities of buttermilk, porridge, yoghurt and lassi (a drink made out of water and yoghurt). Rajnath Singh, who is contesting from lucknow, takes extremely light meals and snacks with a minimum level of sugar. Smriti Irani avoids cold water and sips coffee. laiya chana is the ideal snack and everyone avoids
deep fried food. Biscuits and dalmoth (snack made out of pulses) are stacked in the cars always,” said Anita.
Asked how politicians maintain such high energy levels despite getting on in years, she said that many of them practice yoga. “In the BJP exercise has always been given a lot of importance and there are several leaders who do kapalbhati (a breathing exercise) to keep themselves fit,” said Anita.
General Secretary UP Congress Pramod Singh said that most of the candidates who were campaigning relied on a heavy breakfast to see them through the major part of the day. “Heavy breakfast is followed by light meals, which usually consists of yoghurt, chapattis, fruits and biscuits. Cold drinks are not available in rural areas and candidates mostly opt for buttermilk,” he said.
Samajwadi Party’s Rajendra Chaudhary said the leaders mostly go in for simple food. “It is a very simple diet as they campaign and they prefer mostly yoghurt and buttermilk,” he said.
However, Krishna Dutt, a former psychologist from KGMU says that the reason behind the high energy levels of the netas is very different. “When a person sets a clear goal for himself, his energy level goes high unlike a person who has no specific goal. So, food becomes secondary for those involved in achieving their goals.”
