Street Talk

In each of the three elections that Vajpayee has fought from here since 1991, his victory margin has remained above one lakh. Last time, it was as high as 2.13 lakh. Now, Lucknow says, it will come down. Krishan, a photographer from Hazratganj, and Suresh Dalwani can read the writing on the wall and so, they say, can Vajpayee. 8220;Can you explain why a person of the stature of Atalji had to address street-corner meetings, while in earlier elections he spent little time in his constituency?8221; Krishan asks. 8220;This was simply because hewas told that fight this time is not as simple as it had been earlier.8221; Vajpayee addressed as many as six meetings in the past three days here.

Dalwani talks about the galaxy of BJP leaders who addressed meetings in PM8217;s constituency, among them L.K. Advani, Kalyan Singh, Madan Lal Khurana, Sushma Swaraj, Pramod Mahajan, Sahib Singh Verma and Narendra Modi. 8220;Is it not indication of a sense of disquiet in the BJP camp?8221; he asks.

One of Vajpayee8217;s rallies coincided with a meeting of Sonia Gandhi, being held just a little distance away and attended by a large number of Muslims. Mohammed Sulaiman was among those present, and he sounds a warning to the Prime Minister. 8220;How long can the BJP take the voters for granted?8221; he asks. 8220;We will show that we are not like sheep. Karan Singh has done tremendous legwork. Maybe he is not in a position to win this time, but who knows what will happen next time.8221;

8211;AMIT SHARMA