Colony to colony, house to house – Torch blazes a new trail

The election campaign of Birju Nayak, people's candidate selected by the Lok Raj Samitis of South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, is striking a chord in the hearts of the people of the constituency.

His election symbol, the torch is attracting the attention of the citizens here, as it promises to illuminate the path out of the darkness and hopelessness that most citizens feel about the present political and electoral process.

Truly representing the people's mandate (hundreds of residents organised in the Lok Raj Samitis of Tughlakabad, Govindpuri, Kalkaji and Indira Kalyan Vihar nominated him to be their candidate in a public meeting held earlier this month), Birju Nayak is campaigning for a new political process in which people will select and field candidates from among their midst, hold the elected representative accountable to the electorate and secure the right to recall him if he fails in his duty towards the people. He has personally signed an affidavit promising, if elected, to work in accordance with the wishes of the people, to render accounts to them and to submit to their decision to recall him if he does not perform in their interests.

Right after filing his nomination, Birju Nayak and his team of youthful campaigners took a solemn oath at the memorial to Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his comrades on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, pledging that they would work to turn the glorious aspirations of our martyrs into a reality.

Striking a direct rapport with the citizens, the activists campaigning for Birju Nayak are going house to house, seeking support for him and his vision for a renewed political process, in which the people shall be the masters over their elected representatives. They inform the residents of Birju's pledge and his novel ideas through a leaflet, which is being distributed in thousands.

In the jhuggi bastis of Govindpuri housing working people settled in from all parts of the country – Bhoomiheen Camp, Janata Jeewan Camp, Jawaharlal Nehru Camp, Manav Kalyan Camp, Sarvodaya Camp, the campaigners can be seen in the early hours of the morning, talking to people as they prepare to leave for work. Many local youth join the campaigners in their house to house contact program.

Bal Mukand Khand, Ami Chand Khand, Subhash Khand and Tilak Khand – the four parts of Giri Nagar colony in Kalkaji, named after those who fought for the freedom of our people from colonial subjugation, is the next area of activity. Small corner meetings are held, in which people animatedly discuss with the activists of the campaign about what ails the present system, why the woes of the poor are never redressed and what can be done to change this.

In far flung areas of the constituency – Palam extension, Raj Nagar and other colonies – Birju's campaign caravan, a brightly decorated van bearing the slogans "Bhasha, Jaat, Dharam anek, par zulm-anyay ke khilaf hamara sangharsh ek" (though we may be of different languages, origins or faiths, our struggle against oppression and injustice is one) and "Hum hain iske maalik, hum hain hindostan, mazdoor kisan aurat aur jawan" (workers, peasants, women and youth, we are the masters of hindostan) is quite a crowd puller. As the van stops in one residential colony after another, curious residents gather around to hear the campaigners. Many are eager to meet the candidate. They are tired of the loud campaigning by the Congress Party, BJP and other such political parties, of the false promises that they make again and again to win votes, only to disappear until the next elections. The idea of people being able to exercise control over their elected representatives is catching the imagination of many ordinary working people.

At sundown, supporters in one of the colonies can be seen busily making arrangements for a public rally. If it is Harkesh Nagar today, it may be Indira Kalyan Vihar or Transit Camp tomorrow. Hamara ummeedvar, logon ka ummedvar, Birju Nayak will be coming to address the people there. Songs of struggle, sacrifice, hope and determination draw crowds to the manch, as Birju appeals to the youth and all the people present to come together to end this situation where we the people are always the victims and sufferers. Let us together march towards that future in which we shall be the masters of our own destiny, he calls out, amidst heavy applause.