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This is an archive article published on September 7, 1999

In Sahib8217;s village, they voted again and again

NEW DELHI, SEPT 6: Polling stations at Mundka had the rare distinction of being perhaps the only place in Outer Delhi where people lined ...

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NEW DELHI, SEPT 6: Polling stations at Mundka had the rare distinction of being perhaps the only place in Outer Delhi where people lined up to vote. Or cast bogus votes.

Bogus voting was organised and being conducted with camaraderie at the native village of BJP candidate from outer Delhi and former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma.

The presence of the police did nothing to deter the teams of men and women posted out here. The arrival of the deputy commissioner8217;s cavalcade only scattered them for a while.

Lakme nail polish remover and cotton buds were at the centre of this operation. Even the children knew. 8220;Nana ko jitana hai,8221; said a little two-year-old as his mother and her group of 10 women got ready for the next bout of impersonation. 8220;The whole village is one family,8221; elaborates the woman who is leading the band.

Huddled together in groups at a nearby crossing on the Rohtak Road ringed by the men who kept changing shirts to re-enter the booth, the women obviously had the advantage asthey covered their heads and disappeared inside. There were Pepsi bottles waiting outside for the thirsty. A village elder advised the young men to go slow on the pace of voting.

Grumbling about the ubiquitous parcha voter8217;s slip handed to him by a person who 10 minutes ago pretended to be someone else, the polling officer complained, 8220;Aap abhi abhi toh has has kar parcha leh gaye hai.8221; The man waited outside and then went in again for another try.

At Nangloi Jat Village, voting continued at a furious pace compared to other areas in Delhi. The mood was peaceful and any sign of disapproval over the murder of Samata Party candidate Ved Singh during the last Assembly polls was not in evidence.

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Voters were seen waiting at bus stands. There were queues at the BJP tables while the Congress ones were relatively less crowded. 8220;We will give our vote to Sahib Singh. He is from our village,8221; said a woman.

At Kirari, the native village of Congress candidate Deep Chand Sharma, the scene wasquiet. The voter turnout was hovering at around 30 to 35 per cent at 3 pm. At the end of polling, the overwhelming response at Mundka remained unmatched.

 

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