Candidates device novel ways to woo voters on Bengali New Year's Day

From Baharampur on the bank of the Bhagirathi to Kolkata on the eastern strand of Hooghly, politicians came up with novel strategies to woo the voters in the guise of extending wishes on the Bengali New Year Day or "poila Baisakh" Tuesday.

In Jadavpur on the southern outskirts of the metropolis, people woke up with their morning cuppa to find small greeting cards tumbling out of their newspapers. To their pleasant surprise, it was Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee wishing them good health and happiness on "Poila Baisakh".

The cards had pictures of Banerjee and the Trinamool candidate from Jadavpur constituency Sugata Bose. Towards the bottom was printed the party slogan "Banglar Disha, Bharoter Poth, Bangla Gorbe Bharater Bhobishyot" (Bengal's path is India's path. Bengal will build India's future).

There was no direct appeal for votes, but the message was hard to miss.

BJP candidate from North Kolkata seat Rahul Sinha enthusiastically distributed lotuses among the commoners as he wished them "Subho Naba Barsha" (happy New Year). He was happy as the people heartily returned his wishes.

Sinha exuded hope that the lotuses - his party's symbol - on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) will find similar acceptance on the polling day.

In Krishnanagar constituency of Nadia district, commoners were greeted "Subho Naba Barsha" with red roses by Congress candidate Razia Ahmed.

In Baharampur of Murshidabad district, Trinamool Congress candidate and singer Indranil Sen led a cultural rally on the occasion.

"Vote er shomprochar noy, eta bengalir culture. Manusher kache pouchanor jonne eta ekta udyog" (this is not a political stunt, rather a Bengali culture. This is an effort to reach out to the people), said Sen, merrily distributing autographs to children and adults alike.