Even as Bengal did today — celebrating Holi on Sunday — what the rest of India would do tomorrow, the candidates for lok Sabha elections used the festival of colours to reach out to the people.
“let us not talk politics today,” said CPI(M) candidate from Jadavpur Dr Sujan Chakrabarty "because I prefer playing Holi with people from all parties. There is no political divide today.” On what his favourite colour is the former Marxist MP says though his preferred colour is red “I have deep respect for all the colours.”
Smeared with green gulal, Trinamool Congress candidate and sitting MP from Howrah Prasun Banerjee, a former national soccer player feels, “Holi has always been special for me as it gave the opportunity to reunite with relatives and friends. After I joined politics Holi has taken a larger dimension. Now my whole constituency is my family and I try to reach out to them on this day.”
Unlike many other candidates Prasun hit the streets even on Sunday taking part in the festival with the aam aadmi.
Not to be left behind George Becker the Bangla film actor and BJP candidate from Howrah also led a bevy of party men all daubed in saffron colour down the streets "to convey my best wishes to the people." He hoped "this colour would prevail even on May 16 when the BJP comes out with flying colours after the elections."
Sujan Chakrabarty's Marxist comrade and CPI(M) candidate from North Kolkata Rupa Bagchi too feels that "today is not a day to talk politics. It is a festival and let us celebrate it together. Instead of remaining indoors I have decided to celebrate the festival on the streets, with the people."
On the dichotomy of celebrating religious festivals as a member of an agnostic outfit Bagchi says "Holi allows you to be with the people and my political belief also says so. I do not find any dichotomy here."
Trinamool candidate and sitting MP from Serampore Kalyan Banerjee says "every day is a festival of colours for me as I remain devoted to my work throughout the year" adding, to him "true colour is the colour of commitment."
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress once iterated its resolve not to ally with the BJP post lok Sabha elections.
Senior party leader Mukul Roy said "our party chief Mamata Banerjee has already said that there is no question of going with either a corrupt party or a communal party and we still stick to our stand."
Reminding how Banerjee had told at January 30 rally that "the Trinamool will never back a face of riot," Roy said his party had vowed to go it alone and would continue to do so.