IANS/Mathura
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Hema Malini, who was dubbed the 'dream girl' of Bollywood in the sixties and who was initially reluctant to step out of the air-conditioned comforts of her sedan during campaigning for the Mathura Lok Sabha seat, now pumps water from a hand pump and clutches a sickle as she fends of a tough fight from her rival in the mounting heat of summer in what is known in folklore as "Lord Krishna's abode."
Despite being a yesteryear's diva, Hema Malini has not lost her appeal.
"Even at this age she is so glamorous. It’s the daily yoga and dance that keeps her so fit," exclaimed Vishakha Tripathi, an IT student.
Mathura goes to polls on April 24.
When Hema Malini arrived in Mathura a week ago, she was reluctant to come out of her air-conditioned car and she "preferred to wave from inside the car instead of coming out and greeting people,” according to school teacher Mohan Lal of Goverdhan.
"When there was criticism, she tried to make amends and got herself photographed at the hand pump or hold a sickle and join the farm-workers in the field," Lal said.
Hema Malini, who debuted opposite Raj Kapoor in Sapnon Ka Saudagar and went on to act in over 150 movies, certainly has her admirers.
"People keep waiting for hours in the villages to have her darshan. Her films including Sholay are popular," said a street vendor.
She is getting enthusiastic response from the crowd in both urban and rural areas of Mathura.
But the undercurrents over the failure to make a dent in the popularity of sitting MP Jayant Choudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) are clearly discernible in the local BJP outfit.
State president Laxmi Kant Vajpayee tried hard to iron out differences and seek "unqualified support" of the local leaders to ensure Hema Malini's thumping victory.
Two days ago after Hema Malini complained to the party's top leaders including the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, about the differences and lack of support from a section of local leaders, two senior members of the BJP were sent to Mathura and told to stay put to co-ordinate the campaign.
In this Jat-dominated constituency, Choudhary Charan Singh's name still holds sway and with a chunk of Muslim votes assured, Jayant remains a formidable opponent.
The recent reservation to Jats goes in his favour and youngsters from the community seem to believe "this move alone will open floodgates to opportunities for them."
Ashok Bansal, who teaches at a college, said: "Undoubtedly, Narendra Modi will help her get extra votes in the urban areas. The BJP is strong in all the urban clusters and there has been a degree of polarisation also."
