HOLI..A TOOL TO REACH PEOPLE

With the Lok Sabha polls knocking at the door, candidates cutting across party lines today used Holi, the festival of colours, as a tool to reach out to the people of their respective constituencies. Holi, which is celebrated as 'Doljatra' in this part of the country, is celebrated with dance and songs. Trinamool Congress MP and candidate from Howrah Prasun Banerjee celebrated Holi in his constituency with party supporters and locals. "Just like other festivals, I prefer to celebrate Holi with the people of my constituency. Today there is no place for politics, its only colours all the way," Banerjee said. "I am happy to celebrate this day with the people of Howrah. Hope this festivity would prevail on May 16 (the day of counting of votes)," BJP candidate from Howrah and veteran actor George Becker chuckled. Just like candidates of Howrah, CPI(M) nominees from Jadavpur and Kolkata North, Sujan Chakraborty and Rupa Bagchi respectively, were also seen celebrating Holi in their seats. However, both Chakraborty and Bagchi denied Holi to be a public relations exercise before polls and stressed it is just a festival. "Rather than PR exercise before polls, it should be treated just as a festival which we all are celebrating together," Chakraborty said. "Today there is no place for politics. We are all here to celebrate the festival," Bagchi said. Some celebrated the festival in their hometown. Trinamool candidate from Krishnanagar Tapas Pal and CPI(M) candidate from Mathurapur Rinku Naskar preferred to stay in their localities and celebrate the festival.