By IANS,
New Delhi : Beggars and traders, especially those dealing in coins, are cheering because it’s election time. No, they aren’t excited about the political process and changing governments, but are just happy to make a fast buck.
In a bid to make their candidates more popular, supporters are weighing them against coins and stacks of currency notes, mostly old ones. Once this is done, the slogan-shouting supporters distribute the money among beggars.
Sacks of coins and currency notes are kept on one side of the weighing scales and the candidate is seated on the other and weighed against these. While the beggar goes home happy, businessmen dealing in coins and old currency notes are also happy at doing brisk business. It’s election time.
Usually, traders charge Rs.500 for coins worth Rs 5.000, but these days they are charging Rs.1,000 for that quantum.
Said Ramesh Gupta, a trader in coins and old currency notes in Sadar Bazar, a wholesale market in the national capital: “Coins and old currency notes are much in demand these days. Candidates ask their supporters to buy these so that they could be weighed and the money distributed among poor people.”
“This is one sure way to make people (read voters) remember you,” Gupta said.
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Personality, new criteria for getting poll ticket
Besides following party principles and being loyal to his party, what can get a person a ticket to fight elections? The candidate’s overall personality.
A senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader recently revealed the ‘secret’. Candidly speaking, he said that in today’s elections what matters is the personality of the leader, both in terms of physical appearance and image.
He even gave the example of BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is known for his sharp comments and vibrant personality.
It seems in the times to come, the candidates will have to spend more time grooming themselves than their constituency!
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Campaigning by eunuchs much debated in parties
Both Congress and BJP leaders are roping in eunuchs to campaign for their parties in the Delhi assembly polls slated for Nov 29. But there are many party members who are against the move.
Some party workers are so enthusiastic about eunuchs campaigning for the elections that they say eunuchs are even much better than any film or television stars.
But many are opposed to getting eunuchs to campaign for their party candidates. They felt this would not go down well with the party’s image or supporters. The issues being raised by the party during elections would not be taken seriously if eunuchs campaign, many party workers felt.