BJP's Harsh Vardhan never lost an election to Delhi Vidhan Sabha

NEW DELHI: Ex-PM AB Vajpayee often referred to Harsh Vardhan as ‘Swasthya’ Vardhan. Not only does the BJP’s CM candidate for Delhi have a flourishing practice as an ENT specialist but he also played a key role in eradicating polio from the Capital when he was state health minister in the 1990s. Another former prime Minister, IK Gujral, even said he was possibly the “best health minister in India”.

A long-time member of the RSS, Vardhan entered politics in 1993 when he won the Krishna Nagar assembly constituency in east Delhi. He retained the seat in the 1998, 2003, 2008 and now the 2013 polls. His political career is grounded in his medical practice, helping him forge strong bonds with the community, he says. Even amid hectic electioneering, he would find time to attend morning clinics. It’s “a part of my campaign anyway”, he would say with a smile. The soft-spoken doctor headed the state party unit in 2003-08 but had mostly taken a back seat until BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi picked him as nominee for chief minister, thwarting the claims of Vijay Goel.

“It was his general acceptability to all which is his chief strength. He has a gentle manner and the ability to take everyone along,” said a BJP leader. In the 15 years that Congress ruled Delhi, the state BJP unit was riven by divisions.

But given anti-Congress sentiment, the BJP deemed that Vardhan, with his acceptability to all leaders in the state unit, would be able to attract the votes of the disaffected. After he won, Vardhan was even-handed in his comments.

Given the verdict, this attitude could serve the BJP well as it looks to form a government — just what the doctor ordered.