A day after polling, it was time to relax and reflect for the aspiring MPs of the national Capital. While some were taken ill and were advised rest by doctors, others took time out to thank their workers and discuss polling trends. Basking in the post-poll phase, the 150 candidates from the city took a well-deserved break from their month-long frantic campaigning on Friday to spend time with their loved ones.
She did not have to step out in the scorching heat, but BJP’s contender from New Delhi constituency, Meenakshi lekhi still had her hands full. Despite being down with a bad throat, she held continuous meetings with her workers. Expressing gratitude to her supporters over a luncheon she organised for them, she was busy personally greeting everyone. “My day was far from being relaxed today as I attended back-to-back meetings. Moreover, my days are only going to be more hectic now as my party has asked me to go across the nation for campaigning,” said lekhi.
Journalist-turned-politician and the Aam Aadmi Party’s candidate from Chandni Chowk, Ashutosh complained of swollen feet and was strictly advised a week of rest by his doctor. “There is an electrolyte imbalance in my body and I have been advised five days of total rest. So I am grounded,” expressed Ashutosh, a debutant in electoral politics. In a few days, he too is all set to leave the city on a nationwide campaigning spree.
Congress lok Sabha candidate from East Delhi, Sandeep Dikshit, spent his Friday meeting with people and relatives. Putting an end to his three-month rigorous electioneering, Dikshit is now ready to spend a month with his mother in Kerala lock, stock, and barrel. “These have been a hectic couple of months and this break comes as a much-needed respite. I intend spending some quality time with my mother in Kerala,” said Dikshit. “I may also be sent by the party to work as an observer in some constituency in the country. If not, I will go visit a few of my friends from the party and help them with their campaigns,” he added.
For BJP’s candidate from Chandni Chowk Dr Harsh Vardhan, Friday was no different from the other days. Apart from spending a few hours early in the morning with his family, he was mostly found at the party office attending meetings with other party members. Meanwhile, AAP’s candidate from North-East constituency Prof Anand Kumar had a ‘peaceful’ day after ‘six weeks’. “I woke up at my own will without any schedule unlike previous days. I along with my wife enjoyed our morning tea sitting in our garden behind our house. It was quality time spent after a long time,” said Kumar, a professor in JNU.