The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sari episode was the last straw: Tytler

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 14, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sari episode was the last straw: Tytler

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MAY 13. When the Congress candidate Jagdish Tytler walked into Saheed Amir Chand Sarvodaya Vidyalaya counting centre in Ludlow Castle early this morning wearing a white beaded victory garland, the mood had been already set for his victory. Dholwallas and garland laden Congress workers were all there eager and ready for action.

And while Mr. Tytler seemed to be making an extra effort to reach out to all, holding three impromptu press conference in a matter of three hours, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Vijay Goel preferred to remain in the confines of the returning officer's office until late in the morning, emerging only when it the trend indicated an almost sure victory for Congress to make an official statement.

"BJP seems to be losing and we will accept the verdict people have given," said a rather gloomy looking Mr. Goel dressed in yellow khadi kurta.

But by 12 noon Mr. Tytler was declared the winner from the Delhi Sadar constituency seat. And minutes after the official results were announced the Congress stationed outside the counting centre burst into celebrations, burning crackers, dancing to the beats of the dholawalla and jostled amongst themselves to get onto Mr. Tytler's jeep for the `vijay yatra' during which he visited the Samadhi of Indira, Rajiv Gandhi and later also met the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.

In his official statement after being declared a winner, Mr. Tytler lashed out against Mr. Goel claiming that the sari distribution episode was the last straw. "My victory is not the victory of Sheila Dikshit and I would attribute it only to Sonia Gandhi and my workers. Also I think my one to one contact with the people of my area paid off," said Mr. Tytler.

Mr. Goel claimed that he would now have more time to pursue his passion, social work. He reiterated that it was really the Congress which had distributed the sari and that the BJP had nothing to do with it.

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