I want people to be healthy,Only then the country will be healthy: Rahul Shewale

Matunga resident KA Viswanathan saw a political muscle flex itself at the open gym in Five Gardens early Thursday morning. At 8.30 AM, long after the operatic guffaws of laughter club had decreased and the crowd of morning walkers were asked to wait by some party workers, had dissipated, Shiv Sena candidate from Mumbai South-Central Rahul Shewale arrived in all whites.

The senior citizens who criticized about lack of facilities in the garden, after meeting them Shewale told the young people working out at the open gym that he too does yoga and exercise daily as he inaugurated the revamped Shivaji Park open gym recently. "I will make this a modern gym like the one at Shivaji Park," assured Shewale. "I want people to be healthy. Only then the country will be healthy," he added.

Political flourishes are hosing gardens and open spaces across Mumbai, increasingly this election season. Congress candidate from Mumbai South-Central, Eknath Gaikwad, went for a morning stroll at Shivaji Park while Gajanan Kirtikar, Shiv Sena candidate from Mumbai North-West, socialized with people in a park, last month.

Railway platforms have transformed into campaigning platforms. Congress candidate Urmila Matondkar's rally was disrupted by a mob that shouted 'Modi, Modi', lately near Borivali station. In an instance, such happenings made Subhash Gupta of Rail Yatri Parishad bring up the need to request Election Commission to make sure that no one raises slogans in public spaces without authorization.

But Gupta, who's seen everyone from Sena's Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde to BJP's Mumbai North MP Gopal Shetty mingle with passengers in local trains this time, understands the allure. "Mumbai's peak hour offers a ready audience to candidates at no expense," says Gupta, who accused that presence of railways in the national development agenda has made it attractive to MPs.

Moreover, Deora met diamond traders and not only told them about his family's link with the industry but blamed Sena of hurting Jain sentiments, this month. "Sena insulted the Jain community a few years ago when its activists cooked meat outside your temples during Paryushan. Remember this when you vote," Deora said, instigation Sena to complain to EC.