In Akhilesh’s campaign, Jayant is an added “star” factor. And together they love to take Yogi Adityanath head-on. The duo appears far more lethal –in Western UP –and has a real “local connect”.
In the rural parts of Agra, at a cold storage site, it’s a jammed scenario. A large banner seeking support for the local Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance candidate is hanging from the roof of the tin shade. A majority of those who had thronged to this site were youngsters. While hundreds were surrounding the red bus an election rath standing in the middle of the compound, many more hundreds were sitting on the rooftop and walls of the cold storage site. Each of them looked enthusiastically towards the two leaders standing atop the red bus. Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Choudhary.
Every time Yadav would look in a specific direction, the youngster would cheer in sheer enthusiasm. And respond to the former Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister’s electoral banters. When the duo Yadav and Choudhary waved towards the supporters standing in the compound, they would try to move closer to the bus like a storm in the sea. Making it even more difficult for the security personnel and the media personnel –waiting from the SP-RLD chief to come down—to maintain their positions.
After a brief electoral campaign speech and seeking support for their candidates, Yadav and Choudhary pose for pictures. They climb down the bus. And the Samajwadi Party’s Vijay Rath heads for the next destination. Stopping at different junctures in the rural areas before heading back to the city. Where they addressed another “election meeting” from the top of the rath.
Between the two election meetings, their rath stops frequently at pre-identified spots where the supporters of the SP-RLD have been waiting for hours. Yadav-Chaudhary wave their hands at them, often from the window of the bus. They exchange smiles. At times, they would even open the windows to shake hands, hold a couple of photo frames including those of Ambedkar and Saint Valmiki being sent their side by the supporters. At certain spots, the duo would make a cameo appearance at the top of the bus. And also hold a Gada (mace) offered by the supporters.
Akhilesh and Jayant have three favourites in their electoral speeches: take UP Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yogi Adityanath head-on. Raise the local issues and make electoral promises specific to the belt they are campaigning in. And use banters which can appeal the youngsters.
