Nestled high up in the Aravalli hills, farmers of Utara Bhagali village don’t want to recall the four years of drought they have left behind. It rained this monsoon and that is that. Only, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his men are counting on them to remember the ‘‘excellent drought work’’ done by the government and vote them back to power. ‘‘Those were tough days but who wants to dwell on that miserable phase again? We have moved on,’’ says Nawa Ram, brushing aside the worst drought in the history of the state. What Ram does not say and what the Congress wants to hear is the state government’s ‘‘efficient drought management’’ that ensured food and work through the years. So much so that Sirohi sitting Congress MLA Sayam Lodha is taking a break, in the belief that his work for the polls is done. ‘‘Of course I am relaxed,’’ he says, stretching on a sofa inside a roadside dhaba. ‘‘We have done wonderful work during the drought years. I have trekked to far-flung villages and ensured that all relief work is carried out properly. All my efforts will pay off. I am positive I will win.’’ ‘‘Every house had foodgrains and everybody had work,’’ Lodha says. ‘‘Things have never been better managed. In fact, the opposition was never able to come up with any big case of corruption or a scam during this period. We never gave them a chance.’’ Lodha’s confidence is echoed by every Congress worker in the state. Each worker is thrilled about the ‘‘excellent’’ work done during the drought. Gehlot has made long speeches and insiders believe the drought campaign has improved his image tremendously. They are about the only ones talking about the drought still, though. With the onset of monsoons and the bumper crop, farmers across the state are not interested in the state’s trumpeting over one of the worst times of their lives. ‘‘The drought is no longer an issue,’’ says Bera Ram Devasi, taking a long puff on his chillum. ‘‘We suffered, the government did its duty and now it’s over. Right now, we need roads to reach the town below and a small clinic here so that our sick don’t die during the 15-km trek down to the nearest hospital.’’ The BJP has moved on too. State party chief Vasundhara Raje quickly changed gears during her Parivartan yatra as the rains dampened her anti-Gehlot drought campaign. The yatra began with shrill accusations against the state government over ‘‘drought mismanagement’’ but as it rained, the charges were considerably watered down. But all was not well with the drought relief, the BJP says. In neighbouring Dungarpur, BJP workers allege that the Congress politicised drought relief. ‘‘Only Congress supporters got work and foodgrain,’’ says BJP worker Tulsi Ram Patel. ‘‘We know of cases where people have been made to swear that they will support the Congress and then given aid.’’ The BJP has, however, also turned its focus to the government’s alleged failure on power, roads and all-round development. MEANWHILE
