GURMEET SINGH (MEET) HAHER (AAP), 27, BARNALA

For this mechanical engineer from Barnala, who defeated the sitting MLA, industrialist Kewal Dhillon, despite empty pockets, politics happened when he was preparing for the civil services exam. Fired by the Anna Hazare movement of 2011, he was part of the AAP’s four-member youth executive team for Punjab. “There isn’t a village in Punjab that I didn’t visit,” Meet smiles. Four years of campaigning in villages, and he was poll ready.

SECRET SAUCE

His school, and family. “BGS Public School, my alma mater, must have fetched me at least 15,000 votes,” says Meet. Former captain of the school football and cricket teams, Meet had even primary school students seeking votes for him. His father, a retired SDO, who used to nag him for ruining his life by joining a new-fangled party, went door to door along with his three sisters to garner votes for him. Meet says he was 100% confident of his win because he was just like his voters, a common man.

ROAD AHEAD

Meet is keen to mobilise an MLA fund on the lines of MPLADS. For Barnala, he says: “Main jaan maar doonga (I will do my best) to stop corruption and drugs besides bringing jobs for youngsters.” Upgradation of the civil hospital is also a priority.

BY THE WAY

Loves his three dogs, the eldest is called Orbit. “I was inspired by the gum, not the Badals,” he chuckles. The youngest, Jack, a mongrel with three legs, he rescued from the Barnala bus stand.

Main jaan maar doonga