From Bhojpuri star to astute politician

Prime Minister Narender Modi and BJP president Amit Shah were the two most prominent faces on display for the saffron party's MCD election campaign.

Other than these giants, the only other person to feature on BJP's posters and flex boards was that of North East Delhi MP and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari.

His handling of the party's affairs in the national Capital was touted as his litmus test. Suffice to say that on Wednesday, Tiwari passed with flying colours.

Tiwari exerted a strong influence in areas inhabited by Purvanchalis, namely Babarpur, Seelampur, Mustafabad, Okhla and Shahdara. With BJP winning the Municipal elections with a significant margin, Tiwari proved that his influence was not only limited to these areas in Delhi. An estimated 26 percent of Delhi's population is believed to belong to this vital community.

In the run up to the MCD polls, not only did Tiwari emerge as an effective campaigner manager but also turned out to be an excellent political organiser.

It was Tiwari who organised a massive rally at Ramlila Maidan, where Amit Shah addressed party workers and supporters.

Realising that both Congress and AAP had a strong base in Delhi's JJ cluster and unauthorised settlements, Tiwari also campaigned vigorously in these areas.

It is believed that Tiwari was behind the party's decision to replace all its sitting councillors with new ones.

With all his efforts, Tiwari successfully helped BJP fend off an anti-incumbency sentiment. The party had been criticised for rampant corruption in the three Municipal Corporations.

In an earlier interview to Millennium Post, talking about donning the dual hats of an entertainer and a politician, Tiwari had said: "There is some similarity in politics and in the entertainment industry. In entertainment industry, you have to coordinate well and ensure that everyone in your team is happy and satisfied. It is only when there is satisfaction and happiness that you can deliver something you truly believe in and that connects with the public."

When asked about the acceptability of an actor in politics Tiwari had said: "It's all about the character the protagonist plays on the screen that plays a very important part in the forming the favourable public view. As political workers, you will have to do much more for people to believe that you have more positive aspects to the character they see you on a visual medium."

The next challenge for Tiwari would be to ensure the smooth functioning of Delhi's three civic bodies.