A black velvet suit, a matching designer Punjabi jutti and a scarf of Aam Aadmi Party around her neck. That's how we catch up with Jalandhar's youngest candidate in the fray for the Municipal Corporation elections - Palak Walia from Ward no 71.

The 28-year-old is BBA from Apeejay College of Fine Arts. She passed her MBA from Apeejay Institute of Management. She is still a final-year student of the LLB from Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus at Ladhewali.

Before starting off with a career in management or law, the two professional courses she has pursued, she has chosen politics as the first step. She narrates how it happened, "I was not politically aligned anywhere. I had not planned a career in politics. It just came to me straightaway. I always aspired to bring in a change. A few days back, my dad asked me if I wanted to try for councillor elections. My answer was yes and it just started like that."

Palak's father Surjeet Rai Bitta is the general secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association. He has been closely associated with cricketer and AAP MP Harbhajan Singh. It is learnt that Bhajji helped Palak secure the ticket for he has now also released a video in her support. Bhajji's picture is boldly displayed in all hoardings and posters of Palak.

Palak says that it was so sudden that she hardly had any time to rethink, "In the evening when my name appeared in the AAP list, I had my last examination of fifth semester the next day. There were people coming to congratulate me when I was still rushing through my notes. The next day was the day for filing nominations and I had my examination from 1 pm to 4 pm. I told my dad that I have to finish up everything before this time so that I am able to reach my college in time. He managed everything for me and was up for exam right time. All my revision was done while I was on the move - from home to the office of Returning Officer and from there to the college".

Asked how she would manage her final semester in college and politics, she replied, "I think it should not be a problem. I can handle both. In fact, I have on my plan to appear for PCS judicial examination also next year. So, everything will go together. There should not be an issue at all."

On her agenda for Qila Mohalla, Chandan Nahar and other localities falling in her area are the same issues, "Garbage lifting, dog menace, sewage overflow, streetlights and similar issues are being flagged by the residents wherever I am going for canvassing. I promise to them that I will make their lives better by resolving all these issues".