ELECTIONS '98 COMMENTARY
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For the man on Bhopal's street, voting Congress is an old habit that dies hard

A Ganesh Nadar in Bhopal

Life goes on in the Madhya Pradesh capital as before, as far as the public is concerned.

Congressmen are either celebrating or dashing off to Delhi. The BJP is into mourning and cribbing. Two former chief ministers belonging to the BJP could not fathom why they lost. But the people who voted for the Congress knew why they did so. The reasons are unbelievably simple. A conversation with autorickshaw drivers, mechanics, teashop owners, barbers and businessmen is illuminating.

Zubair Khan: My family always votes for the Congress and since my childhood I have been a Congress supporter. Only the Congress knows to rule. These people (the BJP) are only concerned with Ayodhya. My municipal corporator is from the BJP. There is no tap in my street. He hasn't even come to see it.

Tea shop-owner: Hum to bachpan se hi Congress ko vote dete hain (from my childhood I have voted for the Congress). Why? Habit.

Nanak: Habit. I like them.

Raees: They work, personally they haven't done anything for me. I have no expectations from them. Aadat se majboor hoon (I am used to it)

Sonu: I always vote Congress -- habit.

Mohammed Iqbal: Good governance. I have faith in my candidate Arif Aqeel.

Akhtar Khan: Good government. Long running. The BJP causes fights. The public is not concerned with masjid-mandir. We are worried about our work and food. The atmosphere is poisoned by politicians. A human being should relate to another human being. Religion should be separate.

Maken: Nobody can govern better. They have given us an image. Everybody is welcome in the Congress. The BJP accepts only a certain religion. In Congress raj, we can get things done by bribing. Once they take money the work is done. With the BJP, they take the money and make you run in circles. They don't know how to run the administration.

Shailesh: They can provide a stable government. At least it will run for five years. We cannot have frequent elections. They add to our tax burden.

So in Bhopal, to win an election all you have to do is hope that old habits don't die.

Assembly Election '98

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