Other States - New Delhi   

Making the best use of Iftar parties

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 19 . It's election time and time to woo the voters. And if it happens to be the month of Ramzan, what better way than to hold Iftar and Id Milan parties? That is precisely what the political leaders are doing in the run-up to the polls in Delhi. Apprehensive that these would be added to their election expenditure, leaders and candidates are visiting people who are organising such parties.

While the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, hosted an Iftar party at the AICC headquarters here this past Saturday which was attended by prominent Delhi leaders, the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief, Madan Lal Khurana, is hosting one on Thursday. The Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Chaudhary Prem Singh, is yet to decide when to hold an Iftar party.

Interestingly, the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, whose Iftar parties are known for their grand spread and ambience, has decided not to hold one this year. "I am attending Iftar parties in my constituency and other places and people are keen that I join them. But keeping in view the number of invitations I am getting, it will not be possible for me to organise one this time round. Nevertheless, it is a great place to meet and interact with people and get some good feedback on the election scenario,'' she remarked.

The former Transport Minister, Pervez Hashmi, is known among his voters and people of the adjoining areas for hosting grand Id Milan parties which are open to all. The Minority Cell of the DPCC recently organised an Iftar, which was attended among others by Ms.Dikshit, Mr. Prem Singh and other senior Congress leaders.

The contesting candidates are not taking any chances in view of the strict vigil being kept over expenditure by the Election Commission-appointed expenditure observers. Therefore, it is now their supporters who are holding such parties.

The Delhi Assembly Speaker, Subhash Chopra, has been attending Iftar parties regularly. "There is a lot of enthusiasm among the minorities of my area which is the reason why such a large number of Iftar functions are being held,'' he revealed. Similarly, in the Muslim-dominated Babarpur Assembly constituency, the young Congress candidate, Vinay Sharma, too is busy with Iftar parties.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Karan Singh to head campaign committee
• A new breed of image-makers
• Making the best use of Iftar parties

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu