City favours change, but wary of Sonia

Author: Times News Network
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 15, 2004
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/676521.cms

The pollsters and political pundits may be red faced over predictions gone awry, but TNN found that people on the street were more blase.
 
Some were ignorant - "what happened?" - some surprised and quite a few said that any government was okay as long as Sonia Gandhi does not become the prime minister.
 
State Bank of India Sujata Kulkarni said that it was good that Milind Deora won in south Mumbai, because "it's time we see some young politicians and their bold ideas make Mumbai a better place to live.But I'm not keen on Sonia Gandhi as PM."
 
"Definitely not," exclaimed Vikas Sherlikar outside his Nariman point office, "I can understand Milind winning, but I can't understand Govinda, and I definitely don't want Sonia."
 
Travel agent Gulu Jagtiani also said it was not the Italian roots which bothered her. "I am not sure how well she understands politics," she said. In fact, senior citizen Sudha Chavan is vehemently opposed to the BJP's ideology but said that she did not vote this time because she did not want Sonia to become prime minister.
 
"She has no proven abilities, she's only there because of dynasty politics," she said. Others were cynically accepting. Ravi Menon, an aeronautical engineer stated: "I am comfortable with anyone in power because I am fully aware that the bureaucratic functioning will remain unchanged."
 
While a few of the white-collar brigade scurrying across Nariman Point and Churchgate expressed unhappiness over the Congress win, many said the change was welcome. Banker C Pramod, munching his lunch at a roadside stall in Nariman Point, attributed it to the anti-incumbency factor and the fact that "India is shining only in the cities and the IT sector".
 
"The majority are still struggling for basic rights," agreed Sachin Satpade,working for the Birla group and one of the many crowding around the large TV screen set up outside the deserted BJP office near Mantralaya.

Satpade also believes that the BJP lost because it sent confused signals about its agenda, especially on Hindutva. Agreed Chintan Dhruv, an insurance officer discussing the results animatedly with his friends on the train, "The BJP did a lot, but they did not reach out to the poor."
 
As for the city's surprise wins, many seem to find Deora's youth reason enough for the upset but Govinda's win more incomprehensible. "It just shows you that there is a lot of catching up to do as far as quality of candidates are concerned, '' said management consultant Satchit Adhikari, lounging outside Maker Towers.
 
Others were philosophical. "He's a film star and you know what we Indians are like," said Prashanth Sampath, a young intern with the State Bank of India.
 
Outside Churchgate station, fruit vendor Hanumath Kamble says he could not vote as his name was missing in the election list. But his hope springs eternal-he says it doesn't matter which political party and candidate wins, "Sonia ho ya Advani, hamein chahiye acchabijli sadakaur pani " (Be it Sonia or Advani, all we want is good roads,water and electricity).
 

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