Political Pulse

At 6.45 a.m., Manish Tewari, dressed in a tracksuit and white T-shirt, strides swiftly beside Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, giving individuals who are out for a morning stroll a solid handshake. "How are you doing, gentleman? Manish Tewari here; kindly lend your support. The 58-year-old Congressman approaches a middle-aged man and says, "I am the joint candidate of the Congress and the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party)." The man instantly replies, "I know you, I was your junior at St John's (school)." Tewari speaks briefly with the person sweeping the walkway before moving on to the next person. "What is your name? Manish Tewari is my name. Is everything in your home in order? He addresses the crowd in Hindi, "I am the joint candidate of the Congress-AAP alliance.