Delhi: Parties hope to dazzle voters with star power

New Delhi: In the run up to the Delhi civic elections, the BJP, Congress and AAP are trying to gain traction with the voters by inviting their star campaigners.

While the Congress has roped in former Union minister Shashi Tharoor, the BJP is keen on getting UP’s newly-elected chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to campaign for it. The AAP will be banking on its national convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues to address regular corner meetings ahead of the municipal polls on April 23.

The BJP Delhi unit has prepared a list of over 50 star campaigners. The list includes 13 union ministers, chief ministers of all the party ruled states, all the Lok Sabha members from Delhi and actress-turned-MP Hema Malini, and other senior party leaders, according to a BJP leader. The list was sent to the BJP’s Central leadership for approval. The three parties are also finalising a list of Bollywood celebrities. “We are planning to call Bollywood stars and other celebrities. Senior AAP leaders are regularly participating in the door-to-door campaigns to reach out to the voters,” an AAP functionary said. Former Indian cricket team captain Mohammad Azharuddin and actors Nagma and Mahima Chaudhary are expected to bring star power to the Congress’ poll campaigns.

The party will also bank on its Rajasthan president Sachin Pilot and UP president Raj Babbar.

The Congress MP and former Union minister Mr Tharoor on Wednesday, launched the party’s people connect campaign for the MCD polls as he discussed with morning walkers at Jahanpanah Forest Park ways to improve civic schools in the city.

“It is a matter of shame that in Delhi, more than 50,000 students have quit from primary MCD schools in the last three years,” he said.