Politicos in Delhi go the Obama way

New Delhi, Nov 23 (PTI) Did the talisman of Lord Hanuman
prove lucky for US President-elect Barack Obama?

The answer is anybody's guess. But the contestants in
Delhi assembly polls think God's blessings can prove
beneficial in the polls on November 29.

A number of candidates have adopted several methods like
carrying 'Hanuman Chalisa' during campaigning, setting
'Gayatri Mantra' as caller tune and conducting 'havans' to
invoke the "invisible power" to sail through the polls.

"I always carry 'Hanuman Chalisa' with me. It gives me
confidence and I feel secured about my victory," said Bhartiya
Janta Party leader Vijay Jolly, who is contesting against
Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit from New Delhi constituency.

"I have faith in people but at the same time I am a
religious person also," Jolly added.

Blessings of almighty is equally important for Congress
candidate Ramveer Singh Bidhuri.

"I take the name of God before leaving for campaign. It
gives me strength. It is not superstition, it is about
individual belief," said Bidhuri who has set the caller tune
of 'Itni Shakti Hamen Dena Mata' on his mobile phone.

Religious hymns such as 'Gayatri Mantra' and 'Hanuman
Chalisa' are among the most common caller tunes set on the
cellphones of various contestants in fray.

Photograph of BJP's chief ministerial candidate V K
Malhotra praying to God was seen in many newspapers. Malhotra,
BJP state unit chief Harsh Vardhan and Jagdish Mukhi have also
organised 'havans' recently.

"Havan has its own significance. It is the tradition of
those who follow the Arya Samaj sect of Swami Dayanand
Sarswati. We do not start any important work before havan,"
said Gulshan Virmani, a close associate of Mukhi.

He said Mukhi performed 'Havan' at a temple and also paid
obeisance at a Sikh shrine near his residence before filing
nomination paper.

BJP candidate from Malviya Nagar Rambhaj makes it a point
to offer prayers to Lord Ganesha before going for campaigning.

"Though I believe in my deeds, I can't go out without
chanting the name of Lord Ganesha," said the ninth time
contestant.

Many leaders also consult astrologers to find auspicious
time and date before filing nominations or kicking off their
election campaigns. PTI HMK
RKM
NNNN