It’s note time, don’t ask for vote

LUCKNOW: Amidst ongoing noise over demonetisation, campaigning in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh has suddenly gone into slow motion.

Leaders, who used to hit the poll trail much before the announcement of the elections, are busy protesting or supporting demonetisation, either in Parliament or on the streets.

Even the candidates, whose names have been cleared by the leadership, have been forced to stay home than go out for door-to-door campaign. Many candidates who went on a campaign in the countryside were bluntly told by the public, “You are asking for votes while we are struggling for notes.”

Their outings are now limited more to attending marriages or death ceremonies. The voters take note of their candidate’s social commitments.

Helpless as they are in providing succour to the public, the 'netas' feel unwanted. A BSP candidate in Allahabad said, 'Koi hamara naam nahi le raha' (no one even mentions our names).

Ironically, the candidates themselves are short of new currency to order publicity material. A candidate from Agra said, "Even our workers are standing in long queues.”

BSP candidate from Lucknow Central Rajeev Srivastava said, “Sensing the public indifference, we are forced to do closed-door meetings only.”

There were reports that some candidates disbursed the banned notes amongst voters. "After December 30, all banned notes will turn into scrap. As deposit of huge amounts will invite IT notice, a candidate distributed them in Sitapur," said a politician. Meanwhile, the BSP’s small bhaichara meetings led by Naseemuddin Siddiqui and Satish Chandra Mishra are still on, which, according to BSP’s rivals, are mainly attended by Jatavs, Mayawati’s core support group. The BSP was the first to distribute tickets but is planning major changes.

It is interesting to note how parties are coping with the situation. Take the BJP. Their statewide pativartan yatra is evoking little public response except the ones addressed by party’s top leaders. The Prime Minister had addressed three meetings telling party cadre to spread his message of cashless transactions to end corruption in the country.

The BJP will start ticket distribution after the conclusion of the parivartan yatra in which all aspirants are putting their best foot forward.

The Samajwadi Party show is confined to Mulayam Singh Yadav’s divisional rallies. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is on an inauguration spree. He had said recently, ‘We are engaged in a family feud when we should have hit the campaign trail.” However, demonetisation has overshadowed the feud too. And now senior Yadav has also managed to iron out differences.

The Congress’s khat sabhas have become a ‘thing of the past’: people are beginning to forget them.

Demonetisation is not only dominating the political discourse but also public discussions. The divisions on the lines of 'for and against' are clear as majority is expecting a miracle by Prime Minister Modi.

Senior RLD leader Jayant Choudhary said, “It appears the Prime Minister has some plan up his sleeves to assuage the hurt feelings of the masses. He may announce a lucrative scheme in his budget before UP elections.” The RLD is demanding loan waiver for the farmers in the country.

The Election Commission of India had announced elections for UP on December 24 in 2012. The seven phase polling had started on February 3 and ended on March 3. Results were out on March 6.

This time, after the demonetization bombshell, they are too busy arranging new currency to go on a campaign.