She is like drifting wood in ocean waters. And, even if one giant wave washes her ashore, it will definitely be sometime before she is in public notice. That is Seema Sharma, the BJP's Hatia hopeful this Assembly election.

The 47-year-old candidate, a poll newcomer who won the ticket after Ajsu cold-shouldered its sitting MLA to gift big brother BJP the prestigious constituency, gingerly restricted her campaign to Harmu bustee - a party stronghold - earlier this week.

Draped in saffron, a marigold garland only enhancing her political faith, Seema approached people with folded hands and extended a pamphlet-like résumé, which says, ' Main Seema Sharma, BJP ki Hatia Vidhan Sabha ummidwar'. The curriculum vitae further reads, 'Seema Sharma, D/o Late Ramji Pandey, W/o Anil Kumar Sharma (forest department official), birthplace HEC Dhurwa, qualification MA in economics...', as the candidate endeavours to establish connect with the voters.

Despite having lost Hatia thrice, there is still a popular perception in the BJP that the lotus will bloom here once again someday even if a debutante is pitted against sitting MLA and now JVM candidate Navin Jaiswal who had wrested the hot seat in the 2012 bypoll.

Besides, Seema is not just an ordinary name in the party. If party insiders are to be believed, the vice-president of the BJP's women wing outmatched dozens of veterans not by sheer luck, but because of her well-oiled connections in the top brass and excellent PR skills. However, Hatia will be an acid test of her real public relations if the Modi wave sees her through.

On December 5 morning, Seema reached Harmu bustee - all sneakers and shades to beat the winter sun and slog - with local ward councillor Arun Kumar Jha and other supporters in tow. The loudspeaker-mounted campaign vehicle blared, ' aa gaye bhai aa gaye Modi waley aa gaye' and 'Hatia ka vidhayak kaisa ho Seema Sharma jaisa ho'.

The candidate alighted from her jeep and strode to a nearby shop as people cast curious glances. ' Main Seema Sharma, BJP ki candidate aur aapki beti hoon. Ashirvad dijiye,' she said to an elderly shopkeeper who seemed to identify more with the pictures of Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah on the pamphlet.

As Seema hops from one shop to another, her identity crisis follows too.

Priyanka Kumari, a student of Doranda College, admitted that she had never seen 'the woman who came to the marketplace in a saffron sari' and that she was told 'the woman is a BJP candidate'.

Ram Prasad Sahu, another local resident, said councillor Jha was introducing the candidate to everyone. ' Pehli baar aayi hai, so koi jaan pehchan nahi hai. Hum log to Sanghi thahre so vote karenge (She is here for the first time; no one knows her. We are Sangh loyalists, hence will vote for the BJP),' Sahu said.

A BJP leader, accompanying Seema, allayed fears of an identity crisis. 'It is true, but we have overcome it. There is no crisis of confidence. She will win,' he said.

But, the candidate seemed anything but bullish.

' Kidhar jana hai, kidhar jana hai (Which way should I go)?' she asks confused. ' Idhar chaliye idhar bahut badi basti hai (Let's go this way, there is a big bustee here),' someone said. Interrupted another person, ' Nahi, nahi udhar chaliye (No, no, let's go that way).'

Irritated, Seema snubs both, ' Logon se milne dijiye kewal daurney ke liye thode hi na aaye hain. Aap logon ne mera sara plan satyanash kar diya. Logon ki bheed juta kar sabha kartey, so nahi, khali idhar chaliye-udhar chaliye (You all have scuttled my plans. You should have organised a meeting instead of making me sprint here and there).'

With 29 candidates in the fray from Hatia, Seema is locked in a tough battle against Jaiswal. Asked about her priorities if she won, Seema briefly said, 'Roads will top my agenda.'

She denied any identity challenge. ' Jante hain na mujhe? Main Seema Sharma hoon,' she stopped a young voter to prove her point.