Actor, reality show hostess-turned-politician Kirron Kher’s hard work has won her the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, but it has also left her completely exhausted.
Taking time off on the day after she won the crucial seat for the Bharatiya Janata Party trouncing Congress veteran Pawan Bansal and Aam Aadmi Party’s Gul Panag among others, Kirron tells Rediff.com, “It’s been a crazy whirlwind over here. I was informed about my candidature barely a month before elections. I rushed to Chandigarh where we lost precious time because of the local resentment over my candidature and the protests.”
After that it was complete madness for Kirron.
“My life was taken up by road shows, election rallies and campaign speeches. I was clocking 4-5 hours of sleep every day. The rest of the time went into attending rallies. For each one I had to give a completely different speech because the audience-profile at every meeting was different. So very often I found myself giving different speeches within half an hour of one another.”
Kirron was taken aback at the volume of media coverage in Chandigarh. “There are innumerable television channels and papers, all very aggressive and not willing to take a no for an answer. Handling all that media amidst unending road shows and speeches was tough on my schedules. But I am used to the media”, she says.
When asked about her future plans, Kirron sighs, “It’s all up to the (BJP) high command. But one thing is for sure -- I won’t give up doing India’s Got Talent. I enjoy being a judge on that. No matter how difficult it is, but I’ll find time for that. The rest of my schedules will be worked around the requirements in Chandigarh.”
Kirron says she has been living out of suitcases for the past two months. “I’ve just been throwing my sarees into suitcases and traveling. I’ll now have to divide my time between Mumbai and Chandigarh. I have a home in Mumbai which needs attention. But Chandigarh is also home, specially now. Luckily getting to Chandigarh is not a problem. It is only three hours’ drive from Delhi. I don’t think it would be a problem at all.”
Looking back Kirron gives herself a favourable report card.
“I was completely new to politics. Here I was thrown into the biggest political event. I think I managed to conduct myself with dignity and grace in spite of the provocations,” she point out.
