Elections raise spirits8217; in Surat

So while the prohibition department, as usual, has stepped up an anti-liquor drive in the past few weeks, the city police have initiated a sustained drive against bootlegging.

According to the authorities, the stepped up drive would help checking liquor flow just prior to the election. Even the prohibition striking force office8217;s figures indicated that there had been at least dozen seizures of liquor in the past fortnight alone.

But the trend seems to continue even this time, despite the fact that a number of bootleggers have already been taken into preventive custody.

8220;There is a marked increase in raids in the past month,8221; said head constable Kanubhai. Similarly, policemen posted at the DCP prohibition also added that check posts had been set up along the State border with Maharashtra and Daman in a bid to stop liquor flow into the city.

BJP city president Pravin Naik, while acknowledging the menace, pointed out that the phenomenon was not party-sponsored. 8220;Political parties do not use this technique to garner votes. They do not get directly involved,8221; he told Express Newsline.

When asked who 8220;used the technique8221;, Naik replied,8220;Party workers do consume and distribute alcohol. But this is on a personal level and not confined to any one political party.8221;

Naik, however, added that the eight-month-long drive being carried out under the direction of the city police commissioner will ensure that compared to the last few elections, the flow of liquor this time round will be less. 8220;This is a good thing and we welcome the drive,8221; Naik remarked of the consistent raids against bootleggers.

Even Congress city president Pratapsinh Kantharia, said that during his political career that spanned more than three decades he had not tried to woo voters with liquor. 8220;But in any slum area, one sure shot method of getting voters is money and liquor,8221; he said.

Kantharia recollected at least a dozen incidents 8212; from municipal ward elections to Lok Sabha elections 8212; where liquor had played a role in getting votes.

It is said that drums full of liquor are supplied in slums by party workers of all major political parties on the eve of elections. Apart from liquor, cash, material benefits and even food were also regularly distributed among people during elections, party workers stated. But this exercise was restricted to the slum areas and housing boards on the outskirts.

But then, as active party workers claim, liquor brings flair to electioneering. After all, campaigning is a strenuous job and nothing hits the senses as hard as a shot of liquor.