BJP's Manoj Tiwari comes calling, but leaves Faridabad voters asking for more

The attempt of the BJP to use the charm of Bhojpuri actor-turned-MP Manoj Tiwari, to woo the migrant population in the city received a good response in Ballabhgarh, Tigaon and NIT segments on Thursday night. However, due to paucity of time, voters, who had gathered in large numbers hoping to be entertained, returned disappointed.

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Expected in the city around 6.30 pm, Tiwari arrived at 7.40 pm and spent over two hours in the three Assembly segments. Urging people to support the BJP candidates, he spoke about the achievements of Cabinet minister and party candidate Mool Chand Sharma.

In the NIT segment, the migrant population hailing from UP, Bihar and Uttarakhand had to wait for long before they could catch a glimpse of their favourite star, who arrived at 10 pm. While he was expected to entertain the audience in his inimitable Bhojpuri style, he had time enough for only a bhajan and remained on the stage for 10-15 minutes, with the deadline for holding an election meeting looming, said a party activist.

"Though Tiwari felt sorry for reaching late and cited the code of conduct time deadline for not addressing them beyond 10 pm, people who had been waiting to see his performance, were disappointed," remarked Umesh, a resident. He said it was difficult to say if Tiwari's appeal to voters would work, but he had certainly been able to draw a large audience, which might not have come to listen to other politicians.

Earlier, addressing a public meeting at a locality in support of candidates Mool Chand Sharma and Rajesh Nagar, Tiwari said he had not come out of any compulsion, but due to the image and credibility of the leaders who had been actively working for the welfare of all segments of people in their constituencies.

He said the BJP deserved a third term as significant development had taken place under its regime and corruption had been wiped out at public places. "In the name of Goddess Durga, people should take a vow to bring back BJP," he stated.