File Photo of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. (Press Trust of India)
As Arvind Kejriwal arrives to address a Jan Sabha at the Amar Colony Market, the otherwise listless crowd suddenly comes to life. The meeting is at the Kasturba Nagar constituency, where the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded its sitting MLA, Madan Lal.
The party's catchy "Paanch saal Kejriwal" (Give Kejriwal five years) jingle blares from loudspeakers and he is physically lifted up so everyone can see him waving.
Resplendent in his muffler, the AAP chief patiently shakes hands with the people who have surged forward, breaking the rope separating the stage from the seating area. A middle-aged woman gives him a rose.
Mr Kejriwal launches into an immediate attack on the Narendra Modi government.
"The Centre has not managed to control inflation, LPG cylinders have become costly. They did not even manage to get back black money," he says, reminding the people of his own 49-day government, which, he claimed, had cracked down on corruption.
At the next venue -- Jangpura's Sidharth basti -- he addresses a bigger gathering. And while corruption is mentioned again, the party appears to have dumped the issues of Swaraj and Lokpal for the more popular bijli-paani.
Swaraj and Lokpal had formed the backbone of the AAP campaign during the Assembly election last year and it was on the issue of Lokpal that Mr Kejriwal's government had resigned after a 49-day stint.
The banner on stage promises to reduce electricity bills and provide free water.
There is repeated mention that nothing had come of BJP's promise of reduction in electricity bills. The crowd cheers when Mr Kejriwal asks how many get inflated bills, reminding them how as a Chief Minister, he had waived off those.
The party's Jangpura candidate Pravin Kumar, however, insists the Lokpal issue hasn't been forgotten. "The party is committed to the issue and it will happen once our government is formed," he says.
But for the audience, bijli-pani has more resonance.
"He will fulfill all promises. First bijli-pani, then others will happen," said one of the young men.
Pointing to the large crowd, another said, "There is no food packet crowd here, we have come on our own. We all have come for Kejriwal."