Letter from the PM

So far you have received SMSes and voice mail from the PM, but Lucknow's voters are now getting A B Vajpayee's appeal to vote for him via the post too, reports The Asian Age.

Friendless in Idukki

Kerala's most eloquent and well-known tribal voice, C K Janu, finds herself virtually alone as she makes her electoral debut from the Idukki Lok Sabha seat, reports The Telegraph. Once Chief Minister A K Antony's 'beloved sister,' today she is his bitter political foe, while the CPI-M, to which Janu belonged once, is pitching for sitting MP Francis George.

BJP's most wanted

Gujarat may have voted already, but Chief Minister Narendra Modi is the BJP's star campaigner across India, reports The Hindustan Times.

The Kalyan brigade

With former rebel Kalyan Singh entering the fray from Bulandshahr the VHP is going all out to ensure his win, reports The Times of India.

A widow's battle

In 1999 Sudha Yadav, a Kargil widow fighting on a BJP ticket, trounced veteran Rao Inderjeet Singh of the Congress party in Mahendragarh in Haryana. This time round, there is no sympathy wave in her favour. Only her work so far, says The Indian Express.

Cop vs crook

It can happen only in Bihar. In Begusarai, which voted in the first phase, among the contestants are former state director general of police D P Ojha and Kumar Ranjit Singh, alleged mastermind in the IIM question paper leak scam, reports Deccan Chronicle.

Son shine

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh has taken all steps to ensure that his son and sitting MP from Kannauj, Akhilesh Singh Yadav, wins, says Deccan Chronicle.

Bikaner beckons

For macho screen idol and BJP candidate Dharmendra, a favourable ruling from an Indore court in the nikaahnama controversy has made it easier to keep his cool in the desert town, reports The Hindu.

Star-struck

The film brigade is out in strength to campaign for Gurdaspur's sitting MP, Union minister Vinod Khanna, reports The Statesman.

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India Votes 2004 l The Rediff Specials