With the clock ticking down to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections on January 15, the political contest in the city has transformed into a rigorous test of physical stamina. Candidates from all major parties are pushing their bodies to the limit, embarking on punishing daily schedules that involve extensive walking, climbing, and minimal rest in a final bid to connect with every possible voter before campaigning concludes at 5:30 PM on January 13.
The Gruelling Daily Grind: From Dawn to Midnight
The day for most contenders begins in the pre-dawn hours, as early as 5 AM. Public gardens and open spaces, frequented by morning walkers, become the first campaign stops. Here, candidates exchange quick greetings, shake hands, and discuss local issues until around 8 AM. "The early hours are crucial. People are relaxed, more willing to talk, and you can reach many voters in a short time," explained former BJP corporator and current candidate Jitendra Kukde.
Following this, the campaign intensifies with a shift to exhaustive door-to-door outreach. Candidates spread out across their respective wards, navigating narrow lanes and climbing multiple flights of stairs in high-rise apartment buildings. This relentless walking often continues until noon or even 2 PM, by which time many have already covered several kilometres on foot.
No Respite: Strategy Sessions and Night Walks
The afternoon offers little relief, filled with booth-level meetings and strategy discussions with local party workers. By 5 PM, candidates are back on the streets, resuming their door-to-door canvassing, which frequently extends until 9 or 10 PM. The day finally winds down with late-night meetings, pushing bedtime well past midnight and leaving candidates with barely a couple of hours of sleep.
The physical toll of this marathon is unmistakable. Congress candidate from Prabhag 36C, Sanjana Deshmukh, admitted the campaign has pushed her to her limits. After long days on her feet, she now routinely soothes her aching and swollen feet by dipping them in warm water at night. "There's hardly any rest, but you can't afford to slow down at this stage," she stated.
Stamina Emerges as a Silent Electoral Factor
This endurance challenge is a universal experience across party lines. A 69-year-old NCP AP candidate and former corporator, Tanaji Wanve, noted that while his routine walking habit has been beneficial, the current exertion is far greater. "But exertion is more now, and sometimes I feel exhausted," admitted Wanve, who covers between 10 to 15 kilometres daily. He emphasized that vehicles are useless in narrow lanes, making walking the only effective way to forge a personal connection with voters.
Political observers in Nagpur note that this final campaign phase has highlighted stamina as a critical, though often unspoken, factor in the electoral race. "Beyond money and organisation, stamina emerged as a silent factor. Voters notice who reaches them despite fatigue," commented a local political analyst.
As the January 13 deadline for campaigning approaches, Nagpur's candidates continue their arduous journeys—walking, listening, and persuading one doorstep at a time. They hope every kilometre logged in this physical marathon will ultimately convert into a valuable vote on polling day, January 15.
