By Nirendra Dev

Chhindwara/Amla (Madhya Pradesh), Nov 15 (UNI) All sorts of tricks in the game are in play in the run-up to the November 28 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.

The saffron party poll managers have applied 'good caste synthesis' to retain hold in seats such as Amla (Scheduled Caste) reserved. To beat the anti-incumbency, they have also replaced sitting legislator Chaitram Manekar.

The saffron party has reposed faith in Dr Yogesh Pandagere, who will be pitted against well-known Congress candidate Manoj Malwe.

According to local Congress workers, the grand old outfit is banking on their new and old support base both in urban and rural hubs. "We are confident, we will win Amla seat this time - considered a nerve centre of trade and business," a party worker said.

But given the complexity in contest in several seats including Chaurai and Junnardeo (Scheduled Tribe reserved) seat and also a few others, local citizens say for the first time in last two decades - predicting results to 230-member assembly has become a difficult proposition for pollsters and crystal gazers.

Hence and for all obvious reasons, experienced booth managers of previous elections and even palmists and fortune tellers are in demand these days.

"Even best of poll experts on television are still saying 50-50 chances between BJP and Congress. So, we know predicting outcome is difficult and hence some leaders and even enthusiastic supporters are banking on palmists and crystal gazers. Politics have many faces," says Ranjeet Tiwari, a keen political observer in Chhindwara.

Adding to the complexity here, a local astrologer says there are chances of hung assembly as numerous 'unexpected candidates' including from sign board parties and Independent contestants too could win this time.
While on the face value, such predictions by astrologers and palmists could be dismissed; on ground
the political elements do give enough importance.

A local BJP worker from neighbouring Parasia segment says, the "apprehension" of a hung assembly has spawned several marriages of convenience.

"Even deals are struck with caste groups and other sections of people," he says.

Others, however, say the caste idiom does not apply much in this region as people have been traditionally politically "pragmatic lot".

For example, one local politician says, "People prefer Kamal Nath, a Congress veteran in Lok Sabha elections; but in assembly polls, they have always preferred to play different set of political games".

But the dependence on 'luck' factor remains a lasting factor nevertheless, say local residents.

However, someone more into understanding of hardcore politics like Kamlesh Sharma, a local hotelier, says, "People are smart and politically sensitive. Hindu voters in Madhya Pradesh remain inclined towards BJP. Some of them would say, we can still tolerate BJP than prefer a regime (that is Congress) which has spoken about Muslim and Christian appeasement in the past".

This school of thought in many rural pockets of the state is growing apprehensive that greater catastrophe could be unraveled once leaders like Digvijaya Singh, known for his hardliner anti-Hindu and caustic remarks, start getting prominence in governance of the state.

This section does not fail to point out that the former Chief Minister Digvijaya’s son

Jaivardhan Singh is contesting from Raghogarh while his brother also got Congress ticket from Chachoura.
But, this theory is also countered by other sections. They say veteran Kamal Nath - notwithstanding his Congress politics - has been a diehard Hindu and is "credited" for help in building up a large Hanuman temple.

"The perception that the Congress is anti-Hindu has been only part of BJP propaganda," says shopkeeper Lakshman Singh.

Local palmist from Amla - Surendra Pathak - says he often travels in train between Bhopal and Chhindwara and finds people talk about politics during journey.

"I find it a complex game actually. With caste and religion issues coming into the fore especially after RSS-government servants row in Congress manifesto, predicting an easy win or defeat has become toughest proposition," says Pathak, 52.
UNI DEVN SV 1018