Once a priest in Gujarat, finding civic solutions is his poll mantra

NEW DELHI: From being the head priest of a mutt near the Gir forest to BJP's candidate from East Delhi, life has changed completely for Maheish Girri in the past seven years. Once a preacher of Art of Living, Girri today is busy strategizing ways to woo voters in the Lok Sabha elections.

Ever since his name has been announced, Girri has been planning his campaign with local BJP workers. "We will now start campaigning. BJP workers are working out a scheduled for door-to-door campaigning," said the 39-year-old, who filed the nomination on Wednesday.

For him, politics is a way to fulfill his social commitment. "As a social activist, I had started many projects in the area. But I couldn't take them to the logical end due to administrative constraints. Now I am contesting polls so I can provide solutions," said Girri, who is yet to get used to his new role.

His association with Art of Living Foundation and India Against Corruption - which he had quit in December 2011 following differences with Arvind Kejriwal - has helped him get a Lok Sabha ticket despite lacking experience in politics, said sources.

Although his selection has surprised many, Girri boasts of his own workforce of 10,000-plus volunteers who have been working with him on various social and environmental issues. "I'm a teacher with Art of Living Foundation and have a strong support base in the area. I started a campaign called 'Meri Delhi, Meri Yamuna'. Similarly, I have worked on several social issues," he said.

His rivals, Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit and AAP's Rajmohan Gandhi, are already campaigning, but Girri is "not worried" as he has been "working in this area for the past three years".

The BJP candidate is ready with the list of campaign issues. Lack of development and basic amenities in residential colonies and failure of AAP will be two prime issues. "I have worked with Kejriwal. I helped him plan the IAC movement. But I had a bad experience. He is an autocrat. I left the movement as I found there was a huge difference between what he said and did. There is a need to expose Kejriwal. As for Congress, it didn't focus on holistic development. Constructing roads, flyovers, community centres is not development. The slums continue to exist in the area," he said.