South Delhi MP Ramesh Kumar rides on past glory of big brother for votes
All hopes of re-election of South Delhi MP Ramesh Kumar rest on past glory and influence of Jat leader and his elder brother, Sajjan Kumar. Pitching in for the upcoming lok Sabha elections, the duo has seemingly cashed in on the latter’s popularity to woo voters. As the final countdown to polling day has begun, the two have become inseparable. Sajjan never fails to be at his brother’s side during each of his campaigns helping him make a better connect with the public.
Younger Kumar attends over a dozen corner meetings in a day, but in all of them the hardest applause and maximum slogans come when Sajjan gets up to address the people. Similar was the scene when Ramesh attended a corner meeting at Fatehpur Beri. Gentle as he is known to be, Ramesh delivered a routine speech where he spoke of the development done in the past five years where he specifically highlighted of having built graveyards in constituencies like Sangam Vihar and Badarpur. Talking briefly on the issue of unauthorised colonies in the area, he did not fail to mention the role Sajjan played in developing the national Capital, especially Outer Delhi. “The Congress has done a lot for those living in JJ clusters and unauthorised colonies. Sajjan has had a big influence. He installed sewer networks and created roads in the area,” Ramesh said, receiving a mild applause from the audience.
The crowd looked more eager to listen to Sajjan and when he was called to speak, a thrill ran through them. “We accept that we did not perform well in the Delhi Assembly elections. But it was because of all the lies that Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party told people that divided our vote share. Now people have regretted their decision and are coming back to us,” said Sajjan, to an excited audience. Sajjan had first contested lok Sabha elections in 1980 after which in 2009 he was denied a ticket over his alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
For Ramesh, his brother’s profound support is only a positive sign. “Sajjan has had a big influence in the area. I see no harm in the fact that he is helping me out to campaign. If family members do not help, who else willIJ He has been a father figure for me,” he said. While Sajjan said, “I am his brother and I have worked in the area for years. I am beside him to guide him.” Party workers believe it is the experience and years that Sajjan has spent with the people that fetches him all the love from the public. Apart from Fatehpur Beri, the Kumar brothers campaigned in areas like Mehrauli, Deoli and Chhatarpur Assembly segments on Wednesday.