D K RITURAJ : New Delhi, Sun Oct 13 2013, 01:49 hrs
Aam
Aadmi Party supporters at a Durga Puja pandal in CR Park.
RAVI KANOJIA
Following the showcause notices and FIRs, posters carrying images of political patrons were conspicuous by their absence this year at prominent Ramlila grounds and Durga Puja pandals. Further, organisers mentioned that though invitations were issued to celebrities, MPs and MLAs, they were not allowed to address the audience.
"When political leaders come, we show them around the pandal and then offer refreshments... We do not hand them the microphone at any cost," Anita Haldar, organising committee member at the Kalibari Puja Pandal, C R Park, said.
Her thoughts were echoed by a member of the organising committee at the Nav Shri Dharmik Leela Committee. "We invite political leaders but do not take them on the stage... we take them to nearby marquees, where they are felicitated," he said.
Sources at the Luv Kush Ram Lila Committee said they had even cancelled visits by dignitaries this year. "We had planned on calling Ramdev, but we cancelled at the last minute... if he had come and uttered anything political, it would have created unwanted controversy," a source said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers, sporting party caps, were spotted at puja pandals in C R Park on Friday. "This is your time to make a change, do not let it go," a volunteer was heard telling a group of youngsters at Mela ground, C R Park.
However, the volunteers insisted that crowds approached them when they saw them wearing caps and that they handed out caps only when asked. Earlier, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal had visited pandals and, according to sources, had planned visits to Ramlilas. "The plans had to be cancelled in light of the code of conduct," a source at his office said.
Senior Congress and BJP leaders said the code has not seriously impacted their electoral preparations. "The code... only ensures that what we could do openly earlier, we cannot do anymore," a BJP leader said.
"Candidates have not yet been declared, so the code of conduct has not created a difference... we are cautious about inaugurations," a Congress leader said.