People’s candidate, Birju Nayak, selected by various Lok Raj Samitis stretching across Sanjay Colony, Transit camp, Govindpuri, Tughlakabad, and many others, filed his nomination papers on April 13 morning at the Saket nomination centre. Thereafter, Birju accompanied by a large group of his supporters headed straight for the Bhagat Singh Park on the busy Bahadur Shah Zaffar Marg.

There, the young candidate along with supporters took an oath. An oath solemn and full of meaning. It went:

“Hum Hindustan ke aurath, purush aur naujawan, ye prann lethen hai – Hindustan mein mazdoor-kisan ki hukumath kayam karenge”!

The quiet park with the statues of our martyrs reverberated with militant slogans:

Inquilab Zindabad!

Samrajyawad Murdabad!

Hum hai iske malik – Hum hai Hindustan! mazdoor, kisan, aurath aur Jawan!

Hindustan ki Communist Ghadar Party zindabad!

Back at the campaign office, the candidate and supporters fine-tuned their plans for the campaign by the hour and by the minute for the coming days and weeks.

The day ended fittingly with Birju participating in an well-hosted TV talk show on Lok Sabha TV called “Sansad se sadak thak”. Birju Nayak was one among the three participants. The anchor shot questions on the issue of sealing of shops and establishments. While elaborating his understanding of the issue, Birju raised a very relevant and unambiguous question: why have the big political parties never considered the basic and inalienable rights of the toiling masses of Delhi to food, livelihood, shelter, drinking water and sanitation? He also provided the answer. They only care for their votes and for increasing the profits of the capitalists. The solution he said lies in people’s power and solutions can be long lasting and sustainable only when local samitis of people are involved and participate in decision making