NEW DELHI: A fairground atmosphere has descended on party offices here with thousands of hopefuls for next month’s elections queuing up to seek nominations.
With high commands of all the parties beginning to finalize their candidates’ lists hope is written on the face of most of those who have turned party office lawns into temporary camping grounds The number has started swelling after the announcement of poll dates. Temporary arrangements have been made for ticket-seekers at the headquarters of major parties including the Congress-I Bharatiya Janata Party Janata Dal and Janata Dal (S) the Congress-I BJP and Janata Dal (S) offices remain most crowded with the inflow steadily increasing.
A press trust of India correspondent who went round various party offices in the capital found that many were undaunted as they sought an audience with their leaders.
God is there. He will give justice an old man who has come all the way from a remote comer of Orissa hoping to get a congress-I ticket gushed with optimism.
Even as the party bosses are busy with the process of finalizing and releasing the lists large crowds have besieged party offices and houses of senior leaders though most of the leaders have embarked on their campaign tours.
Although most parties rely on their respective state units in issuing tickets aspirants continue to pour in to approach leaders from their states.
The Congress-I headquarters seems to be bursting with activity and its leaders say more than 500 ticket seekers throng the party office everyday
But the most crowded is the Janata Dal (S) office attracting about 1000 hopefuls from across the country daily.
Same is the situation at the BJP office “There is absolutely no need to rush to Delhi for tickets. Our decisions are taken at local levels” said a senior party leader. The Janata Dal has also asked its State units to stop the aspirants from coming to Delhi. But ticket-seekers swarm the party lawns every day.
Astrologer’s palmists and other occult specialists are doing a roaring business feeding the flames of hope of those dreaming of a party ticket. Aspirants were also seen offering prayers in front of party offices hoping for the favorable eye of some deity.
Snacks and tea stall owners who have set up business outside party offices hoping to cash on the flood of ticket-seekers are also making a fast buck. Panwalas have also struck gold thanks to the aspirants.
Job typists are having a field day outside the headquarters of the parties typing out applications for tickets. Khadi sellers have opened temporary stalls near many party offices and are doing brisk business.
While the state “Bhavans’ are crowded with ticket seekers some unwilling to stay far off from party offices have virtually turned their cars and vans into homes.
Senior leaders trying to go into or get out of party offices are mobbed by the hopefuls and their pleas that they be allowed to go are drowned in the cacophony of ticket seekers” pleas. While ticket aspirants from Haryana Bihar U P Orissa Madhya Pradesh Maharashire and Rajasthan descended on the capital little inflow is noticed from the northern eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh and the union territory of Pondicherry perhaps due to the limited number of Lok Sabha seats there.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 19, 1991
