The woman vote lines up

NEW DELHI, February 16: Women turned up in large numbers at several east Delhi polling booths, queuing up to exercise their franchise. Most came with their children in tow, reaching the polling booths around noon after finishing their morning chores and giggled on seeing photographers and cameras. Asked who were they voting for, the same ladies covering their heads immediately replied: Shiela Dikshit.

Why? She is a woman who is fighting and she represents the Gandhi family, they said. In their bright outfits at the Municipal Corporation school in Shakarpur, their children skipped around, singing: Shiela Dikshit aien hai, nai andhi lai. (Shiela Dikshit has come bringing a new wave).

In a number of polling stations, however, people were turned away as their names did not figure in the voter’s list. However, some unscrupulous agents were overheard saying, “But if you still want to vote we can arrange it.”