The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : Poll-Pourri

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Sunday, May 02, 2004

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National - Elections 2004

Poll-Pourri

Plane truth

Flying may not always be the best mode of transport during elections. Ask the BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, or the Congress leader, Mohsina Kidwai, if you like. Recently, Ms. Kidwai had to abandon her aircraft and go by road to Tonk to campaign since the weather conditions did not allow the plane to take off from Jaipur. The party workers in Tonk were duly informed of her arrival by road. But instead of going by car, Ms. Kidwai took a bus. There was nobody at the bus station to receive her and she had to search for the DCC office herself.

As for Mr. Mr. Naidu's travails began when he arrived at the Sanganer airport by a special aircraft on Friday and did not find any identifiable face waiting to greet him. After waiting for a while, he had to go in search of his party leaders himself, only to find them waiting for him with a garland in another place.

Qawwali campaign

Dealers in election paraphernalia such as posters, banners and pamphlets may be ruing the changes in election laws and the limit on poll expenditure, but artistes appear to be striking it rich. Along with celebrities from the film and television world, the polls are also providing the traditional "qawwali" singers something to cheer about.

While one television channel has roped in a group of "qawwals" for a satirical programme, some candidates are using the services of these singers to woo voters. In the Delhi Sadar constituency, the lone Samajwadi Party candidate, Mohammad Imran Ansari, has lined up a number of qawwali programmes to attract people.

Pitted against two heavyweights — Jagdish Tytler of the Congress and Vijay Goel of the Bharatiya Janata Party — he is hoping to do better than most other also-rans. And so alongside cycle rallies, which he is undertaking to promote his party symbol and prospects, Mr. Ansari is also getting classical singers to sweeten his appeal to the voters.

May Day pledge

It was May Day with a difference in West Bengal. With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner it is perhaps not so surprising. Apart from pledging solidarity with the working classes across the world, local leaders of the Left Front and Leftist trade unions made an added pledge at their meetings — that of ensuring the success of the Front's candidates in the coming polls..

The May Day programme, including a call to support Left Front candidates as part of the day's agenda, was announced in advance through pamphlets and party organs. The agenda also included an appeal to vote for the Left Front candidates "to preserve the sovereignty and independence" of India. — Sunny Sebastian,

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar, Marcus Dam

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