CHENNAI: Sure, just like any other councillor, hopeful of doing the rounds of Chennai’s wards, first time politician Raj Cherubal has been hitting homes in Kottivakkam all day long, for the last couple of weeks. Ask him how many people his volunteers and himself meet a day and he’d give you an impressive estimate ranging in the high hundreds. But where he really sets himself apart from other candidates volleying for votes in the local body elections is his supreme presence in the blog-o-sphere. After the invasion of mainstream politicos and their honchos into social networking (read Facebook), the independent candidate’s blog-cum-site, which is updated daily with his whimsical-yet-observative election experiences, draws over 1,400 hits per day. “I figured it was a great way to reach the people who were interested in our campaign for change,” he explains and adds with a grin, “Especially since I write quite well!” Armed with the experience of running a popular socio-political blog (liberationraj.org), the Director-Projects of the NGO Chennai City Connect feels that he “stands a pretty good chance of winning”, especially after the response he has been drawing every day. Talking to City Express early on Friday morning after canvassing for votes among walkers on the beach, he says, “When I decided to take the plunge and contest the elections, I thought to myself, whether I win or lose, either way, I would still be doing the same job — making the city a better place to live in. After all, that’s what I do for a living.” Holding two Masters degrees in Physics and Nuclear Engineering from US varsities, he says that his strongest vote-bank is not among the upper-class/well-educated in uptown Kottivakkam; instead it is the lower-middle class who are most receptive and support his cause immensely. He reveals, “There were so many young guys who chose the 49-0 option in the assembly polls, who were planning to do the same again. The minute they saw my posters and heard about my campaign, they jumped on.” And his supporters are getting younger by the day, going by one of his blog posts. Apparently, while campaigning they entered a house where the lady stopped them mid-sentence and told them that she had already decided to vote for him because, “a sixth standard neighbour kid told her to vote for the road-roller symbol as the uncle has done social work”. He blogs in surprised delight, under ‘Child Messengers’ — “Thanks to the kids of Kottivakkam, looks like I should be getting at least 30 odd votes on Monday (Oct 17, 2011). That is an achievement I can tell my grand kids someday.”
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