Abhay Singh (left) campaigns at Baridih Bustee in Jamshedpur. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, Nov. 20: A quick yoga session followed by a glass of sattu and Abhay Singh was ready for the long day ahead. The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) candidate from Jamshedpur (East) wooed voters in Baridih yesterday.

Before leaving home, he made the customary call to party chief Babulal Marandi and sought his advice on campaigning. He boarded a gleaming white SUV, waiting outside his house, and reached the nearby party office from where the day’s campaign began.

The first destination was Baridih Bustee. As Singh alighted from the car, his supporters followed him with party flags on a door-to-door campaign. He asked an old man who came to meet him: “Baba, aap logon ka kya problem hai (what are your problems)?” After a patient hearing, Singh promised that, if elected, he would address the issues and sought blessings.

As he toured the slum, Singh was surprised to see potholed roads and leaking drainage pipes. “BJP ke purv vidhayak ne kuch kam nahin kiya. Aap mujhe bhari voto se jitaye, main aapko bharosa dilata hoon ki har kam pura karunga (The former BJP legislator has done nothing to develop the area. You ensure my victory by a large margin and I will look after all your needs),” he told the residents.

After campaigning for about an hour at Baridih Bustee, he moved on to Mithila Colony that has a sizeable Bhojpuri-speaking population. With canvassing vehicle playing election songs in Nagpuri, Bhojpuri and Hindi in the background, Singh spoke to the people in Bhojpuri during his 30-minute stay.

After a hectic campaign which continued till 2pm, Singh drove back to the party office in Kashidih for a lunch break. Over lunch, he discussed poll strategy with a few senior leaders and gave them necessary direction.

Soon after, he left for Ramni Nagar in Baridih and resumed canvassing. “Kangi ko pehchan ke rakhna hai aur isi mein button dabana hai (remember this comb and press the button),” he said to the residents who had assembled for a roadside meeting.

The 39-year-old JVM leader also appealed to the voters to strengthen the hands of Babulal Marandi by electing him to power from this constituency. “I am sure of winning the seat as people here want change,” Singh said as he left for a public rally.