Stars descend on Gurgaon as campaigning draws to an end

GURGAON: Campaigning for the Gurgaon Assembly seat concluded on Sunday with candidates trying their best to reach out to as many voters in the constituency. Leaving nothing to chance, the candidates, along with their family members, put up a show of might in the last leg of canvassing. Star power was also evident with Bollywood actors Minnisha Lamba, Aditya Pancholi and Priti Jhangiyani appealing to voters to support independent candidate Sukhbir Kataria.
If independent candidate held a road show packed with Bollywood stars, Congress candidate Dharam Bir Gaba, the reigning MLA from the constituency, reached out to the masses by directly approaching them."I met with voters in areas like DLF Phase-I, Phase-IV, Sector 12, Ramnagar, Shantinagar today. I have done so much for the city and their response has made me believe that I will retain the seat,'' he said. Gaba was seen greeting residents with folded hands and seeking votes in the name of development.
Gaba, along with a battery of party workers, reached out to the interiors of the city and sought votes in the name of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The enthusiastic party workers cheered the Congress candidate with loud sloganeering.
BJP candidate Umesh Agarwal, the richest candidate from the constituency, held 12 nukkad public meetings at places like Ashok vihar, Chakkarpur, Surat Nagar, Sector 4, Rajeev Nagar, and Sushant Lok. With residents of Haryana appearing dissatisfied with the present Congress government, an elated Agarwal said, "The outcome will be in our favour and I will win with a good lead from Gurgaon constituency.''
Forty-year-old R S Rathi, the independent candidate supported by most RWAs in the city, set out on a 25km-long road show starting from New Railway Road. His cavalcade of over 100 cars and 50 bikes was "a clear example how people of Gurgaon are supporting me'', said Rathi before ending his campaign in Sukhrali village. "People in the city feel cheated by politicians and it is time they elect someone who is from amongst them and understands the civic problems they face. A people-backed candidate is the best choice,'' said Rathi, president, Qutub Enclave RWA, DLF city.
Earlier on Saturday evening, Lalu Prasad Yadav addressed a rally in Gaushala field in favour of RJD candidate Ramavtar. To gather a large crowd, a dance show was also put up. "People have lost faith in all political parties and now they should bring in someone new, who does not carry a baggage and gives a new lease of life to the city. That is why people will vote for change,'' Lalu claimed.