February 23, 1998

Vinay Katiyar
BJP

Faizabad  Uttar Pradesh
Electorate: 11.8 lakh
Main Rival: Mitrasen Yadav (SP)

Vinay Katiyar is very confused as he heads towards Faizabad's old sabzi mandi. An aide explains that the local Muslims have invited him. He's nonplussed: "Muslims? Why?" The crowd is just 50-strong. Katiyar rises to speak: "I'll be honest. This is my first visit here. I never came because you never voted for me. Now that you've made a conciliatory gesture, I'll reciprocate." The audience claps. Katiyar grins. He puts his arms around his host: "The man who threw bombs at my boys." Promptly, the host too grins.

Driving into the interiors, Katiyar, 45, contesting for the third time from this constituency that includes Ayodhya, talks incessantly. Sometimes he bellows, "Hum fanatic hain (I'm a fanatic)." Sometimes he mutters, "What development work can you speak of if elections are held every year and a half?" To voters, his entreaty is always the same: "Remember the tubewell? Remember the road I built? Good. Vote for the BJP." The Bajrang Dal president seeking votes on a tubewell ticket? Ram, Ram.

-- Ashok Malik

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