The Hindu : New Delhi News : Liquor flows for vote in Capital

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 10, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Liquor flows for vote in Capital

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, MAY 9. With hardly a day to go for the polling in the Capital, the "tommy", "kutta" and "pilla" are back in demand among the political parties and contesting candidates. No, these are not the names of any pets. Here "tommy" is a code word for a half bottle of liquor. Similar code words are used for other brands and categories of liquor which flows freely in the JJ clusters, resettlement colonies and unauthorised colonies of the Capital in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls on May 10.

Cutting across party lines, both the Congress and the BJP along with other political parties are mobilising resources in this regard for use 24 hours before this class of voters casts their ballots. A large number of cheap brands purchased and stored in various godowns, party offices, residential premises and unsuspecting places by the contesting candidates or their supporters were distributed a day before the polls. In fact, plans were earlier worked out on how the entire distribution has to be conducted with certain trusted party workers being given duties for specific places. The JJ cluster pradhans make merry on such occasions as the entire distribution takes place under their supervision ensuring that they make a kill in the process. Already indications are that large quantity of liquor has been brought from the adjoining States of Haryana and Rajasthan by the various candidates as cheap liquor is available in these States. "Even if you do not want to distribute liquor, you are forced to do so as the rival candidates indulge in such acts. It is a risky proposition but all precautions are taken and the law enforcement agencies are also taken care of," remarked a contesting candidate from Outer Delhi.

As for the coded language, that is used to prevent any chances of detection, "kutta" means a full bottle of liquor and "pilla" means a "quarter". The pouches are also in demand but the leaders of the main political parties are not interested in distributing them for fear of some untoward incident days before the polling day. Interestingly, poll managers ensure that cheap liquor is not purchased in view of its low acceptance in the resettlement colonies and unauthorised colonies. In addition to the liquor, also lined up for distribution were blankets, alarm clocks, cheap sarees, calendars, sweets and of course, the langar (kitchen) keeps running without any bias or discrimination against any particular section or community. The entire liquor distribution operation is conducted on the mobile phones and directions are issued for distributing tommy, kutta and pilla in specified areas.

There is very little fear of the police as some of them are hand in glove with the local leaders. "Everybody knows that liquor would be distributed in the areas dominated by the lower middle class and poor. We just have to manage the things for the next one day. However, liquor is no guarantee now for getting votes," a sitting MLA remarked in North-West Delhi.

"Those living in unauthorised colonies no longer take unknown brands. It is Aristocrat, Royal Stag or the same category liquor that is being distributed here. Special band of supporters have been formed to distribute liquor to ensure that it reaches the right hands," another candidate remarked.

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