'Down to earth man cared for those around him'

It is celebration time for the residents of the nondescript Maharishi Dayanand Vihar colony in Kalyanpur as one among them –Ram Nath Kovind –was rather unexpectedly announced as the ruling NDA's presidential candidate. Since Kovind's name was announced, scores of BJP workers, especially those associated with the Kalyanpur Vypar Mandal descended with crackers and sweets, dancing to drum beats.

Neighbours in Maharishi Dayanand Vihar remember Kovind as a simple, soft spoken person who has maintained relations with those who have been with him. "He comes from modest background and has achieved heights sheerly by the dint of his hardwork and dedication...He did LLB and had also appeared for the civil services exam but had to opt out due to medical reasons," Ashok Trivedi, who served as the two-time MP's PRO from 1996 to 2008, said.