My mother’s daughter: In her first poll battle, Bansuri Swaraj underlines this message

“I AM the embodiment of Sushma Swaraj’s sanskaars, I will never let you down.”

As Bansuri Swaraj, 40, campaigns for her first electoral battle as the BJP’s candidate from New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, she makes it a point to invoke her late mother in every speech.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Bansuri acknowledged her mother’s influence in shaping her values and work ethics. But, she said, she never discussed her entry into politics with her. “My mother and I had never discussed my entry into politics, but we discussed a lot about my entry into law, because politics was never on the horizon at that point of time,” she said.

“I am very grateful to see the affection that people have towards Ma. It is their love for her that they keep showering on me in the form of blessings,” she said. “She was compassion personified, she helped many Indians abroad… even in 2019, when she was not in the government, she did not let go of the compassion. I am really proud of this,” she added.

A surprise pick for the seat, Bansuri replaced the BJP’s two-time New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi. In the 2019 polls, Lekhi won close to 55% of the 9.19 lakh votes polled in the constituency — which covers areas like Malviya Nagar, Greater Kailash, Patel Nagar, Moti Nagar, Karol Bagh and R K Puram — defeating the Congress’s Ajay Maken and AAP’s Brijesh Goyal.

In fact, parts of the New Delhi constituency were earlier included in the South Delhi Lok Sabha seat, from where Sushma Swaraj had won in 1996.

With less than a month left for the elections — Delhi votes on May 25 — Bansuri’s campaign day begins early, as she squeezes in multiple roadshows till evening. From sabzi mandis and chaupals to dhobi ghats and bastis, she addresses small meetings across her