In Varanasi, AAP rethinks campaign strategy, goes small scale

A commonly asked questions this polls season has been campaign expenses, particularly how nation-wide, multi-platform marketing has been funded. But, in Varanasi, Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seem to have changed strategies amid intensive poll campaigning, Economic Times reported. [caption id=“attachment_1479725” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. PTI[/caption] Instead of focusing on large gatherings, the party has decided to address small gatherings across the city. The ET article quotes AAP leader Sanjeev Singh as saying: “Modi will come and address a few rallies and people will only be able to see him from a distance. Our strength is Arvind’s connect with the people. He goes into the crowd, meets people. How often do you come across such a leader these days.” The campaign will cost the party around Rs 45 lakhs. Kejriwal will cover 18 villages across two assembly constituencies in Varanasi. Varanasi, which will go to polls on 12 May will be a three-way clash between BJP’s Narendra Modi, AAP’s Kejriwal and Congress’ Ajai Rai. In a recent interview when Kejriwal was asked why he had decided to contest against Modi in Varanasi and not Vadodara, he responded by asking why the BJP’s prime ministerial nominee needed to contest from two places if a ‘Modi wave’ really existed. “I didn’t know he was going to stand in Vadodara… he had initially said only Varanasi, I asked the people during a rally and they agreed. I didn’t think he would run and contest from two places,” Kejriwal had said.