Will this JNU scholar change the face of rural Lucknow?

When he passed out of the prestigious Delhi School of Economics with a master's degree, he had plans to pursue academics. But soon after he completed M.Phil from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Harshvardhan Shyam's interests began moving in a diametrically opposite direction.

He made up his mind to try his luck in public life. And when the first opportunity came his way to contest the 2012 Uttar Pradesh assembly election, he took the plunge from Mohanlalganj constituency on the outskirts of Lucknow. And none other than the Congress party decided to award him a ticket.

This 32-year-old bachelor came on Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's radar when he went to attend the 2009 Youth Congress convention in Ambedkar Nagar. Queries posed by him drew Rahul's attention and propelled him into the Gandhi scion's team, by virtue of which he was also made a Youth Congress coordinator at the JNU.

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Born and brought up in Lucknow, he did his early education from St Joseph Cathedral School, Lucknow before he was shifted to a more prestigious school in Nainital by his father, a government official in Lucknow. 

Soon after completing his schooling, from Nainital, his high aggregate got him into Delhi University's famous Sri Ram College of Commerce from where he obtained an honours degree in economics. DSE became his nest destination followed by JNU, where he was currently pursuing Ph.D on the changing dynamics of UP politics post 1989.

And how does he perceive his latest challenge -- the electoral battle against a much more seasoned 52-year-old RK Chaudhary, who has romped home from Mohanlalganj for three successive terms. He took off into politics as a trusted lieutenant of the Bahuijan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram, who even got him inducted as a minister in the first Mayawati-led BSP-BJP government in 1995. A law graduate, Chaudharyu was compelled to make an exit from the BSP because of souring of relations with Mayawati. However, considering that he won the next two elections as an Independent makes him quite formidable for a young Harshvardhan.

Asked why he chose Mohanlalganj for his maiden entry into politics, the young Congress candidate said, Wwell, I was looking for a reserved constituency and Mohanlalganj ideally suited me as it was a traditional seat of the Congress. Even though RK Chaudhary had succeeded three times from there, the electorate was now looking for change and I know I am capable of living up to the expectations of the people there."

And this young lad is leaving no stone unturned to pitch in his best. Setting off on his door-to-door campaign at the dot of 8 am, he moves from village to village and hamlet to hamlet, reaching out to people in their fields, homes schools and colleges, besides addressing roadside meetings

And what is the vision he is projecting for Mohanlalganj? "I wish to take this constituency forward. Despite being barely 25 km from the state capital, Mohanlalganj has not seen the fruits of development. This place has neither basic infrastructure, civic amenities nor industry. I see no reason why this place should remain deprived of all that it rightly deserves by virtue of its proximity to the number one city of India's most populous state."