February 23, 1998

Gandhinagar   Gujarat
Electorate: 17.5 lakh
Main Rival: L K Advani (BJP)

He's used to strutting across his state, brandishing a banner of righteousness, trying to clean up a place where crime is something that top policemen aren't known to handle too well. These days, former DGP P.K. Dutta, Congress scarf round his neck, is strutting across Gandhinagar constituency. Only this time, he's trying to track down and electorally nail one of the country's top politicians, BJP President L.K. Advani.

Why take on such a heavyweight? Dutta has a whole string of reasons. His favourites: "The 'b' in BJP stands for bullying and blackmail", "Religion has no place in politics", and "Do you want India to turn into Algeria, Sudan or Pakistan?" So what better way to make a statement than to take on the head honcho?

Nobody really goes out of his way to tell Dutta -- an unlikely Don Quixote who zips across Gandhinagar in his Gypsy, skipping meals and foregoing water in his enthusiasm to punt for the Congress -- that Advani will probably plaster him in the polls. Mainly because the man actually believes in what he says and says what he feels. Even before Dutta can complete his pitch of "Your vote for me will go towards introducing clean people in public life", BJP supporter Dinubhai Thakkar breaks in reverentially. "You don't have to introduce yourself. We know of your reputation." That is enough to make Dutta twirl his moustache with pride. But probably that isn't enough for him to win.

-- Uday Mahurkar

Back to Carnival

Write to us | Subscriptions

© Living Media India Ltd