Thiruvananthapuram, March 17 (IANS): Those days when his mere entry into a police station would trigger a symphony of salutes are long gone. But 44-year-old Ajith Joy, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) and now an AAP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, takes it in his stride.

Joy surprised many police officials busy working at the Museum police station in the heart of the capital Monday when he came in spotting the in-fashion AAP cap, instead of an official beret or pea cap.

"Yes, I came here to solicit votes as these police officials are also part of our society and have their votes. So I thought, I will come and meet them personally," said Joy to the waiting media.

A 1992 batch officer who worked in Kerala before moving to Bihar cadre, Joy is taking on the might of union minister Shashi Tharoor of the Congress and Bennet Abraham of the Communist Party of India.

The former IPS officer, who quit service last year, is now a practicing Supreme Court lawyer and hails from Thiruvananthapuram.