The politician who promises a new station

Like any other politician, Kirtikar makes his promises -- fighting terrorism, providing better railways for Mumbai citizens who have to fight for a few inches of space in crowded trains, and even promises a new railway station in Oshiwara for the emerging population in those parts.

He hopes to win against Abu Azmi -- whom Kirtikar considers his biggest rival because he believes the Muslim vote will go to the Samajwadi Party nominee. "But these two (also indicating Congress candidate Gurudas Kamath) are outsiders -- one is from Colaba (Azmi; Colaba is in the Mumbai South constituency) and the other from Chembur (Kamath; Chembur is in the Mumbai North East constituency). Also, these people want to be leaders in Delhi someday while I will remain here," says Kirtikar.

His 38-year-old son Amol, who has been actively involved in politics for the past three years and is currently general secretary of the Sena's youth wing, is helping his father with the campaign.

"We distribute pamphlets, bring the youth to our rallies, go to their chawls and discuss Sena activities with them," Amol explains. "We talk to them, to the north Indian youth, and dispel all the wrong notions they may have about the Sena."

Amol was not in Mumbai during Kirtikar's first electoral campaign in 1990. Those days, he was studying agriculture in a college in Dapoli, Ratnagiri district.

"I liked that a lot," he recalls. "If I hadn't joined politics, I would have done something in agriculture."

So what made Amol join politics? "Initially, I didn't want to join politics," he says. "Like everyone else, especially youngsters, I used to think that politics was a dirty game. But then a friend -- a journalist -- told me you can't call politics dirty if you're not a part of it. Either you join politics and then call it bad if you think so, or else don't join it. But don't pass judgments. I liked what he said."

Kirtikar was happy to have his son join politics, have someone carry on the family tradition. "Most fathers like that. If you're a businessman, you want your son to become a businessman," Amol explains.

His younger sisters Harshada and Gauri, like their mother, chose to be homemakers.

Amol was not born when his father gave up a clerical job in the Reserve Bank of India to join the Sena.

Gajanan Kirtikar's day starts early these days. The candidate is out of the house by 8:30 am. By the time his meetings and rallies are done, it's close to midnight.

Amol's day starts relatively later. "I don't have to attend rallies," he says. "I have to deal with the youth. Since most youngsters come home from work around 8, 9 pm, that's when my job actually starts. I go to people's houses and talk to them about the Sena. My work ends late -- I'm home by 2, 3 in the morning."

When he's not helping his father on the campaign or working for the party, Amol takes care of his construction business.

So what does Amol think his father's biggest strengths are? "He's been an MLA for 20 years and he knows Mumbai, and his work very well," he says.

What about his weaknesses? "This is the first time we are contesting a Lok Sabha election, so there's a lot to be done. The work has tripled," he says, as he slips back into work mode.