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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Campaigning in Bihar amid scorching heat
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Campaigning in Bihar amid scorching heat

While national election is seeing a lot of heat on the ground in Bihar, the people of the state are eagerly waiting for mangoes

Photo: Anuja/MintPremium
Photo: Anuja/Mint

Bihar is known for its scalding summers. Anyone who has stayed there in the midst of the blistering heat of April to June knows how life rearranges itself while the sun engulfs the land. Roads are deserted in the afternoons, people prefer staying indoors while not at work and schools shut a little after noon.

But the Lok Sabha election approaches as the state peaks to temperatures hovering above 40 degrees Celsius. On our election trail, as I passed by villages at around 3pm, not a soul could be seen outside of their homes. The roads, apart from national highways, are still fairly deserted in the afternoons and children can hardly be spotted playing in the fields.

The heat makes it especially difficult for politicians on election campaigns. Contestants here are opting for small programmes requiring only brief meetings with the people in their constituencies. Any break in between is spent in the comfort of air-conditioners in their campaign vehicles.

A Janata Dal (United) leader, for instance, has set up air-conditioned camps at all important places in his constituency, where he retreats often for lunch and tea breaks.

The bigger problem for the politicians is mustering enough people in the middle of a hot day to attend their rallies. Earlier this week, a leader whose campaign trail I followed faced the wrath of a heat-struck audience in a hamlet in Bihar because of a delay in starting his meeting.

The politicians find respite in aam panna, a cooling drink made out of raw mangoes and spices. Also almost unique to Bihar’s gastronomic list, walk down any road in any town and you are likely to find a sweet and light drink made out of the ubiquitous sattu—roasted and powered chickpea. Many politicians on campaign trails also stop by near bridges to have fresh kakdis (Armenian cucumber), a variety of cucumber that’s rich in water content.

This national election is seeing a lot of heat on the ground in Bihar. While political parties and their leaders are waiting for the results of the election to be announced in the middle of this summer, the people of Bihar are eagerly waiting for the one sweet thing that comes out of this scorching season, their favourite mangoes.

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Published: 23 Apr 2014, 01:31 PM IST
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