February 23, 1998

Kanara  Karnataka
Electorate: 10.7 lakh
Main Rival: A K Hegde (BJP)

This is Karwar, a coastal town in Kanara constituency. Margaret Alva has made a rented rundown building her campaign headquarters. She's the Congress candidate but no party workers are in sight. Instead, it's a family affair. Daughter Manira controls the budget, sons Nikhil and Niret drive the Tata Sumos. For 24 years, Alva has been a Rajya Sabha member, and it's a nervous Sonia acolyte who's fighting her first popular election. Her anxiety is understandable -- her debut coincides with the BJP's rise in the area.

Still, she's game. "My biggest asset is being a woman and everyone, especially the fisherwomen, are with me." Perhaps not. One morning she approaches a fisherwoman, saying, "I'm Margaret Alva from the Congress. Please vote for me." There's a shrug in response: "Yes, yes ... how about buying my fish?" Nobody seems to recognise her. Years of living in Delhi has taken its toll. "Women," she proclaims, "this is your turn to vote for a woman." Few seem to hear her.

Later, with the constituency's 4 per cent Christian vote in mind, she attends the evening service at the cathedral. But you could have almost missed her arrival. Life is tough in an emerging BJP stronghold, with a 32-year-old karate black-belt for a rival. At the lectern, the priest says, "God can write straight on crooked lines." Alva perhaps hopes He can ensure that the right poll symbol will be stamped.

-- Stephen David

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