It all began a long, long time ago. 2014 to be exact - in the early months leading up to Indiaâs most groundbreaking general elections so far. Before Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, several social outreach programmes were conducted to cement his influence among the masses - one of them being a campaign called #ChaiPeCharcha. 

Today, six years on, weâre seeing chai and politics mix once again - just in a very different camp.

In a new campaign called âKaam Ki Chaiâ, the Aam Aadmi party has set up chai stalls throughout all of Delhiâs assembly constituencies, with various kinds of tea on offer, each highlighting various achievements and campaign promises of Delhiâs currently reigning party.

The campaign was spearheaded by an Ahmedabad MBA-dropout named Praful Billor. Billor, who goes by the moniker âMBA-Chaiwalaâ, contacted the Delhi chief minister directly and offered to spread through the tea stall concept information about the work done by the Kejriwal government.

© PTI

According to party members, 30-40 volunteers will soon join him and put up tea stalls in all assembly constituencies here.

© PTI

The first available chai is named shiksha wali chai (education tea), and represents recent work on education facilities and programmes in Delhi, such as mega PTMs (Parent-Teacher Meetings) and the cabinetâs recent approval of a âSports Universityâ, which aims to help train and develop world-class athletes.

Another variety named swasthya wali chai (health tea) represents the partyâs work on improving healthcare facilities in the capital for government hospitals, and initiatives such as free tests, surgeries and medicines, mohalla clinics and poly-clinics.

The third kind, âspecial teaâ aims to highlight special subsidies such as  cheap electricity, water and free bus/metro travel for women - while the last kind, vikas wali chai (development tea) focuses on the governmentâs doorstep delivery of citizen services, free Wi-Fi schemes and installation of CCTV cameras.

© BCCL

While Billor seems to clearly have a favourite, he insists that he is not directly associated with any political party and simply wishes to support good work being done. He said he decided to come all the way from Ahmedabad to put up a tea stall here as he believes that Kejriwal has delivered good governance in Delhi, which "is evident on the ground and needs no promotion".

View the full article