Campaigning for the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections became all the more colourful on Tuesday with the Congress roping in star campaigner and former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin.
A Congress Lok Sabha Member from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Azharuddin launched his road show from the Mahalakshmi Layout Assembly constituency in the morning. Mahalakshmi Layout MLA N.L. Narendra Babu, who does not wish to lose his hold on the constituency that has seven wards, is making all out efforts to get Congress candidates elected to the palike.
A former corporator himself, Mr. Narendra Babu knows very well the techniques to be adopted for the local body elections and thought it fit to get a star campaigner.
Seven wards
The Assembly constituency comprises seven wards, namely Nandini Layout, Marappana Palya, Nagapura, Mahalakshmipuram, Shaktiganapatinagar, Shankara Math and Vrishabhavathi Nagar. Mr. Narendra Babu has high stakes in the constituency and even put up his brother N.L. Ravishankar from Nagapura ward, once represented by him.
Mr. Azharuddin began his road show from the police quarters in Nandini Layout along with Mr. Narendra Babu and Congress candidates from the constituency. The entourage went towards Kanteerava Studios and later came back to Mahalakshmi Layout. All along the way, Mr. Azharuddin, wearing a black cap and sunglasses, greeted the crowd gathered on either side of the road. The entourage stopped for a while where Mr. Azharuddin made short speeches in Hindi seeking votes for Congress candidates.
Cricket buffs
For many cricket buffs, watching live the erstwhile cricketer itself was a matter of joy. Murugesh of Nandini Layout said, “I had been a fan of Azharuddin when he was active in cricket. I'm happy to see him campaigning for the Congress now.” Many youngsters, who had only heard about this cricket star, too were happy to see him. Some were heard discussing the infamous match fixing which ultimately ruined the former captain's career.
The road show which began at around 11.45 a.m. went along till around 1.30 p.m. After a whirlwind road show covering almost all the wards, Mr. Azharuddin left the constituency through the Rajajinagar Rama Mandira.
