The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : POLL-POURRI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 03, 2004

National

National - Elections 2004

POLL-POURRI

For the record

The desire of politicians to contest can be understood but what accounts for the itch of those who throw their hat in the ring as independents? The reasons vary, but in the case of Mit Singh Sehjarra, the motivation is clear and simple - to find a place in the record books.

The 61-year-old ex-serviceman, who is contesting from Sangrur in Punjab, is a veteran of many an electoral battle. Over the past few decades, he has contested about 40 elections at both the regional and national level. In 1984, his enthusiasm was so great that he filed his papers from seven of the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab.

He may not even be on the electoral radar of most poll observers and the chances of saving his deposit may be, to understate the point, somewhat slim. But he is becoming known as another Kaka Joginder Singh. Singh, better known as `Dhartipakad' (someone who clings). Joginder Singh earned this sobriquet for filing his nomination to the office of the President of India on several occasions before breathing his last.

Third innings

Former Test cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who took fresh guard as a commentator, now finds himself on an altogether different playing field. Having entered the electoral fray as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Amritsar, Mr. Sidhu, (Sherry to his friends) has literally taken the battle to the opposition camp. His campaign is orchestrated from a hired bungalow on Mall road, right across from the residence of his opponent, the Congress leader Raghunandan Lal Bhatia, who is seeking to retain his seat.

Moving around with a youthful team, which includes key coordinators from his hometown of Patiala, Mr. Sidhu has been drawing a good response, particularly among the youth. Of course, many turn up only to see and hear the celebrity. The more enthusiastic fans invariably make their way through the crowd to shake hands, pose for a photograph or collect his autograph.

No protest

The burning issue of the continued persecution of Dalits hardly finds a mention in the election campaign in the Tonk Lok Sabha constituency of Rajasthan, which is reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Political calculations and the equations that govern the relationship between the Dalits and the upper castes seem to be responsible for this strange phenomenon.

While the Congress candidate is from the Bairwa caste, the Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded a Meghwal. Both avoid making any reference to controversial incidents such as the clash between Jats and the district administration in Phagi over the right of Dalits to bathe in the village pond.

The candidates of both parties as well as the electorate appear convinced that protesting against the atrocities on Dalits during elections will only increase tension and heartburn on both the sides and will not yield any desirable result.

K.V. Prasad, Mohammed Iqbal

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