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BANGALORE: There is a spring in his steps. As he moves from one side of Commercial Street to the other, negotiates traffic on Jamma Masjid (OPH) Road and jumps across huge garbage piles in Russell Market, V Balakrishnan, former Infosys CFO-turned-Aam Admi Party (AAP) candidate from Bangalore Central, betrays no electoral blues.

 At ease in a pair of jeans, a shirt and chappals, Bala, as Balakrishnan is commonly known, hits the road at 9.15am for a door-to-door campaign in Shivajinagar.

 Four party volunteers -- Dr Abdul Wahid, son-in-law of Congress leader CK Jaffer Sharief; Humayun Sair, a local businessman; Tariq Aleem, a civil engineer, and Major Aditi Mohan, his campaign manager -accompany Bala.

 "We are strictly following the EC rule that not more than five volunteers can participate in a door-to-door campaign," says Bala.

 The AAP candidate’s main plank is corruption: "I am Balakrishnan from the AAP. When you go to the polling booth on April 17, vote for AAP. You know corruption is creating problems in India. Let us have a change this time."

 Major Aditi is vocal. "Balakrishnan has quit a top post in Infosys to serve the people. Please elect him this time," the former armywoman says in Hindi and English.

 Every person the team approaches gets an AAP cap and a pamphlet highlighting the party vision. Basavaraju, a retired army officer, standing outside a shop, tells Bala. "I am happy you are contesting." When Major Aditi tells him that she too was in the Army, Basavaraju immediately dons the AAP cap and salutes her. She returns the gesture.

 Hailing AAP, Ryaz Ahmed, a cloth shop owner on Masjid Road, tells Bala: "Janata ki seva karne ke liye AAP sahi party hai."

 The Muslim-dominated area has Kannada, Hindi, Urdu and Tamil speaking people. Bala struggles to communicate in Hindi. "I can read and write in Hindi. I can speak too but I am not fluent as I don’t talk in Hindi regularly."

 Russell Market tests Bala’s communication skills. Walking along narrow alleys littered with cut fruits, plantain leaves and discarded veggies, Bala visits each and every shop to seek votes. Narayan, a visually handicapped man selling fruits in front of the market, gets an AAP cap and a pamphlet from Bala.

 Mohammed Idrees Chowdhury, general secretary, Russell Market Traders’ Association, who sells rare dates, explains to Bala the problems they are facing in the market, and offers his team dates. He offers Ajwa (Al Madina) dates to Bala’s team members. Shopkeeper Syed Asghar, 42, welcomes Bala with a jasmine garland.

 Amid all this action, a youth is busy cleaning an alley, paving the way for Bala. Thanking him, a volunteer asks for his name. "Balakrishnan," comes the prompt reply. Bala puts his arm around the youngster and gives him a handshake, saying: "I am also Balakrishnan. Vote for me."

 The team winds its way through the mutton market before entering the fish market. A volunteer asks Bala if he’d like to have fish. Bala replies: "I am a vegetarian."

 The volunteers try to convince Bala not to visit a foul-smelling section of the market littered with offal. Major Aditi insists Bala should go everywhere and he obliges.

 "My life is not in my hands. It’s in hers. I have to listen to her. If she asks me to dance, I will have to," says Bala as Major Aditi sports a beaming smile.

 As the nine-hour campaign concludes, Bala signs off, "People want a new party. There’s a big chance for us to win."