Pallu politics: Biwi No 1 kaun?

It's not just Congressman Kapil Sibal vs BJP's Vijender Gupta in Delhi 6, but wife against wife and bahurani too. MiD DAY pitches Gupta's wife Shobha against Sibal's wife Promila and his daughter-in-law Shivani as they campaign at Chandni Chowk

The chewing gum campaigner

Black shades, spotless white skin and grey matter define Shobha, the wife and campaigner to Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Chandni Chowk Vijender Gupta. She's a gum-grinding doctorate-holder in drugs and crime linkage, and walks out of a tinted-glassed SUV to insist that the rest of the talk be done in "our (MiD DAY's) car".
Amid blaring Bollywood-ised campaign songs and busy workers at their Shalimar Bagh office, the lady decides to take us on a rather unconventional ride. We hop in to track the gullies of the Walled City and Tri Nagar, humble roots and rebellion.

Love in Delhi University. Is that how it all began?
Actually, it started in Pilani. I was representing Daulat Ram College at a debate held at the annual fest of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) there, and he (Vijender) was participating on behalf of Ramjas College. Our friendship continued to grow back home through his years at the Sri Ram College of Commerce and mine at Jamia University. And after seven years of friendship, we took our vows in 1987.

Friendship, not love?
We were very close, supportive and caring towards each other, but for long, we didn't have anything 'going on between us' as such.

Vijender was into politics right from his student days. You were studying law. How did you get yourself to trust him?
Vijenderji has always respected women and worked hard. Our bond grew gradually.

Do you consider yourself his right hand person?
He's a self-made man. We had no godfathers; the only common political link was belonging to the Sangh (Sangh Parivar).

Do you know your party? And do you really think the strong family picture sells?
I know the party's manifesto in and out. And winning is not so much about the happy family image as it is about being concerned for citizens and the city, which we truly are.u00a0

Ever wanted to be in the fore, instead of supporting your husband?
I'm more than glad to see where he is. Ek myaan mein do talwar nahiin ho sakti (there can't be two swords in one scabbard).
By now, we're navigating the narrow lanes of Hansapuri at Tri Nagar, where the lady halts to meet a women's gathering, gives them gyaan on voting and patidev's many achievements in exact figures. Immaculate khadi boli is traded for free-flowing English.

At one point, all you were dealing with was Rohini. Now, it's Chandni Chowk, far bigger, bewildering and branched. How much of it do you understand?
I grew up at Sitaram Bazaar in Chandni Chowk, so I know the place pretty well. There's scarcity of space but an abundance of love, just the way Delhi 6 shows it. When I was pursuing my Masters in Social Work from Jamia, everyone mocked me for hailing from this part of the city. But I was always proud of it.u00a0

How fun is all the sweating out?
A lot. Just a day before, my friends and colleagues told me I was hardly smiling. So, we told ourselves that Lok Sabha elections come only once in five years, and we're going to have a party on it. Only a while back, they looked at my saree (a pretty pink-black Bengal cotton combination teamed with a puffed-sleeve blouse, ruby studs and a matching albeit smudged, bindi) and said I've already started dressing like the 'big' leaders!

Are your children following suit?
They show no such inclination so far. My son Aadhar, 19, will be casting his first vote this time. Aina, my daughter, is in her First Year of college, and neither of them has checked what's going on.

'It's like a shaadi in the house'

Says Shivani, the wife of Kapil Sibal's younger son, Akhil. At twenty-eight, she is playing manager, "mainly of media and the kitchen" to her dad-in-law

Aren't you overwhelmed?
No, I'm loving it for the fact that we don't treat politics like a business, and times like these help us bond better. Ours in a family of professionals, not politicians, and there are about 20 Sibals to assist, all around the place it's like a shaadi!
I think the youth should look around and see the state of our national neighbours only then they'd understand the importance of an election.

You are married into a family of lawyers. What about you?
I publish a restaurant guide, Go Delhi. Writing runs in my blood.

How about a political biography of dad-in-law, then?
Nothing on that front yet. I already have my hands full!

Do you know the party's manifesto?
I know the basic ideals.

Sibal-side story

"Vote ke chakkar mein main bikhaari bann gayi hoon," jokes Promila, elaborating on her hawai-chappal padyatras and wedding appearances in the same footwear!

Forget her assets worth
Rs 8.09 crore, this pativrata feels sleep is the most priceless of them all. "I haven't slept for eight hours in two months now," says a visibly weary Promila, just as we settle on the couch in one of their many sitting rooms at 19, Teen Murti Marg. Promila has been campaigning non-stop for husband Kapil Sibal.

All the hustle and bustle seems to have fagged you out.
I can barely talk after all those speeches, even though I'm not losing any weight. My throat's sore and I keep a change of clothes in my bag because there's no time to come home to freshen up. And the only word I exchange with Kapil (Kapil Sibal) these days is a 'goodnight'! I keep thinking when is life going to be normal again?

So, campaigning's quite a pain?
It tires you out, but nevertheless, you meet many well-wishers, especially in the jhuggi-jhopdi colonies. They're so warm. Once, I overheard a rickshawallah saying, 'yeh to jeete hue hain, itna chalne ki kya zaroorat hai?' (they're already winners; why walk so much?). That's the kind of encouragement that keeps you going. I don't know what I'll do after May 7.

If not politics, what would you have pursued?
I can't think of anything other than this.

Ever thought of following his (Kapil Sibal's) footsteps into a big chair someday?
Not at all.

One incident in the recent days you'd never forget.
Once, when I went campaigning, these guys were standing with flower garlands, looking confused. 'Yeh to mantri ki biwi nahi lagti hai. Yehi hai kya?' (She doesn't look like a minister's wife. Is she?) I didn't know how to react. Ab woh (Kapil) naakh nahi chadhate, to main kaise chadhaah lun? (He [Kapil] doesn't have airs, so how can I?)

Do you and your husband have arguments?
We fight because he doesn't like my 'feudal' streak. I tell him I can't help it. This comes from my convent and zamindar backgrounds. He's very soft-hearted and cried after watching Taare Zameen Par.

So does he (Sibal) still make you go weak in the knees?
Yes, especially with his cooking. He's a superb chef and even shops for all the ingredients himself. He says it acts as a stressbuster. When I go to Khan Market, our meat vendor asks me if sahib is going to cook - he even knows the angles at which Kapil likes the meat cut! Then, his taste in art - we've picked up so much of it during our travels, though we still don't have any favourites.

Who writes your speeches? Do you know what the party (Congress) really stands for?
I only speak the truth.
There are no fabricated speeches. As far as knowing our party manifesto is concerned, I've never read it,
but initially, Kapil had briefed me on it, so I do know the ideologies well.

Your favourite part of Chandni Chowk.
The Kinaari Waali Galli, the intoxicating ghee-laden aroma from the paranthewalahs, and there was this dog that followed us through the entire campaigning session one day. 'Badi Congressi aatma hai,' I joked with colleagues. That's the way we make work fun.

Does the happy family image woo voters?
No, this isn't America. The youth is too smart to fall for that. Many successful politicians are separated or single. What counts is the kind of person a leader is. Your family shares the same sensibilities as you, and so, they jump in too.