Street Talk

LUCKNOW: If the Congress thought it had settled scores with the BJP in one-upmanship by fielding Dr Karan Singh against Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in Lucknow, the man on the street is not giving it any credit. It8217;s certainly not Bellary in reverse. But Dr Singh is definitely a talking point in drawing rooms and at street corners. Most people question the wisdom of a scholar like him in agreeing to be fielded against a man whose popularity in Lucknow transcends caste, class and community.

Some bureaucrats on a morning walk in the city, however, hope that the standard of political debate may be raised. 8220;There is no doubt that Atalji will be a winner but with Dr Karan Singh in the fray, we may witness a healthy debate between the two intellectuals,8221; they say. But Dr Singh8217;s first pronouncement has left many people cold. 8220;I have nothing to say against Atal but I will advise him that he should stick to writing poetry, and if he so wishes I can arrange for his stay in the cool environs of the Dal Lake at my palace,8221; he reportedly said.

Satirist K.P. Saxena is forthright: 8220;Only a naive person can question the political wisdom of Atalji. I wonder why a scholar like Dr Karan Singh decided to contest against him and is now giving him this advice.8221; BJP workers react: 8220;He is like the Karn of Mahabharat who sided with the forces of adharam despite knowing that he was fighting a lost battle,8221; they say.

A group of shop-owners is willing to give Dr Singh the benefit of doubt. 8220;His candidature cannot be written off altogether because the man is also a seasoned and mature politician like Atal and if he has agreed to be his opponent, there must be some calculation,8221; they say.