Delhi polls: Agarwal community is the backbone of country’s economy, says Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: As the campaign for Delhi enters its last phase, the contest has become bitter and personalised. On a day when the BJP released an advertisement targeting AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for his shifting stand on Republic Day as well as referring to his Agarwal gotra as "upadravi" or troublesome, Kejriwal told TOI that the BJP is desperate and that's why they are indulging in gaali galoch politics. "They have no agenda, no manifesto, no plan for Delhi, all they can say is Kejriwal is a Naxalite, Kejriwal bandar hai, haramzaada hai, toxic hai, they abuse my community."

"First they targeted my kids, today they have targeted the entire Agarwal gotra. Fight with me, why target my community? The Agarwal samaj is backbone of this country's economy, they are law abiding citizens, how can you call them upadravi? BJP should apologise to agarwal samaj for that advertisement."

Kejrwail looks relaxed and optimistic as he sets out on his campaign. His campaign is low key, a handful of loyalists sit in his brightly decorated flat in Kasushambi arranging his programme, while his son sits at a computer trying to study.

Clad in red jumper and beige trousers, Kejriwal appears smiling and confident, clad in red sweater and beige trousers, although a trademark combativeness still marks his persona. The cough remains even though the muffler is gone for the day. With opinion polls giving the AAP a clear edge in Delhi, the AAP chief has clearly found a new bounce.

He rises at 6 am, has set aside some time every morning to tweet, and after breakfast meets with booth managers and senior leaders. The media is his constant companion, a forest of mikes await as he steps out of his home.

As he heads for his first meeting with lawyers and office bearers of the Delhi bar council at VP House, he says he's getting a very positive response. "Each of our leaders, whether its Ashutosh or Sisodia gets 1000s of people, Smriti Irani got 75 people, Sushma Swaraj got just 150, the BJP is finished in Delhi, even the middle class is back with us."

His convoy consists of only two cars, and his only assistant is his single aide, the faithful Bibhav Kumar who has been his associate since the time he started the NGO Parivartan. Dheere dheere, he cautions the driver as he dislikes speeding.

"The BJP wants to take the country back to the 15th century. The the party which says women should have 4-5 kids, where the CM of Haryana says women shouldn't wear jeans, should not use mobile phones, don't educate them, don't give them jobs. How can such a party provide security for women? As far as we are concerned there should be no difference between men and women. Delhi women shold be free to go out even at midnight."