Countdown after song and dance

It was the lull after the campaign storm. As the clock struck 5 today, the drum beats stopped, the mikes went silent and flag-bearing and sl...

It was the lull after the campaign storm. As the clock struck 5 today, the drum beats stopped, the mikes went silent and flag-bearing and slogan-shouting party activists headed back to offices. For the curtains had come down on the campaign for the December 12 elections.

On the last day of campaigning, the candidates of all political parties made a last-ditch attempt to woo voters. After organising rallies and criss-crossing their constituencies, they settled down in the evening at their poll offices to analyse how effective their campaigns had been.

I WILL: 8216;WE CAN8217;T TRUST
BJP GOVT AGAIN8217;

The question of not voting does not arise. We made a mistake once which cost us our lives. Never again will we let it happen. The forthcoming polls are a second chance given to us by God and we won8217;t let this one go. Thankfully, my family was saved but

I8217;ve lost a couple of friends. I don8217;t even dare visit the area again due to repeated threats from locals. This is what the BJP government has given us in return for our trust. How can we trust them again? It is the government8217;s duty to look after the security of every citizen, no matter what community he belongs to.

I will vote for Congress. I believe it8217;s the only party that talks of maintaining friendly relations between Hindus and Muslims. 8212; Chamanpura resident
Anwar H. Sheikh

Congress candidate from the Sarkhej seat, Himanshu Patel, started the day early, covering 23 villages from Adalaj to Gandhinagar district and dishing out last-minute promises. 8216;8216;The last day is always important so I covered a lot of ground with some aggressive campaigning,8217;8217; he said.

For Congress candidate from Sabarmati constituency Narhari Amin, it was time again for a scooter rally and group meetings. He moved around with his supporters through scores of societies and impressed upon voters that they should vote for him. His rival camp was equally boisterous.

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Party candidate Dr Jitu Patel held last-minute rallies while BJP candidate from Ellisbridge Bhavin Sheth was in a hurry to cover all those residential societies that he8217;d left out.

And since the campaign deadline was 5 pm, all the candidates tried avoiding public meetings.

8216;8216;There was no point holding them as they are fruitful only in the evenings,8217;8217; said a BJP leader assisting Sheth on his campaign.