Sharmistha Mukherjee wants to be a mass leader

Even as Congress struggles to convince its party workers in Delhi to start connecting with people, daughter of President Pranab Mukherjee has already begun her poll campaign.

Likely to contest from Greater Kailash assembly seat, Sharmistha Mukherjee has been holding public meetings for over two months now. She says this is a piece of advice that she had received from her
father when she formally entered active politics in July this year.

"When a minister, my father would meet everyone including a block party workers from West Bengal to the country's biggest entrepreneur. That is something I have learnt from him," she says.

She added, "It is for the party to decide my candidature, but a worker it is my duty to meet people of the area I live in," says the humble politician.

Unlike many dissent voices within the Congress, Sharmistha does not runs down Rahul Gandhi's leadership. "He is our leader and the head of our family. Instead of blaming anyone, it is our time to rebuild, reconnect and take people together," she adds.

As Sharmistha goes out to meet people in the slums and resettlement colonies, not many know about her family background. She maintains a low profile. Unlike other politicians who Sharmistha is all ears to the grievances of her probable voters. She sincerely takes down her notes.

"Many politicians and their wives come to us before elections. But they sit at a distance and spend some 10 odd minutes with us. She is the first person who sat with us on the floor and spent more than an hour with us," said Rukmavati, one of the slum dweller who attended her meeting on Thursday.

And like many others, Sharmistha is very careful about making any commitments. Instead she has a logical explanation and promises only that what an MLA can deliver. "I don't want to be a part of the
political game. I have nothing to offer to them at this time. First I want to build a rapport with these people and establish faith rather than making tall claims," she adds.

Aam Aadmi Party's Saurabh Bhardwaj in 2013 had wrestled Greater Kailash assembly seat from BJP. The Congress now has to win back its voters in this election. Sharmistha says that people now feel betrayed by AAP and she hopes that Modi's euphoria will soon come down. "While AAP kept Delhi without a government, BJP has delayed the electoral process. People have started realising that," she says.

Once the hostess of the President's state guests, Sharmistha now lives in a three bedroom house in Greater Kailash. "I had been a very private person all these years and I did play the hostess at
Rashtrapati Bhawan. But now I want to become a mass person. My role is redefined. My visits to the President House have come down. I do not play a hostess for my father's guests," she smiles and signs off.