Neta hi Neta everywhere

The assembly election in Chhattisgarh is the talk of the town. The way national leaders of different parties are descending on state, you would think the next prime minister of India is being chosen here. Name any big leader and you might bump into him or her.

In the first round Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his deputy Lal Kishenchand Advani, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Gujrat Chief Minister Narendra Modi , BSP leader Mayawati, Union Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj spun their web of words before the voters.

The BJP has pulled out all its big guns for the campaign, but the Congress has fielded only Sonia Gandhi.

Congress deserted by leaders

'Karuna' -- the official residence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi -- wears a deserted look these days. Likewise is Congress Bhavan in Raipur. Security personnel in CM's bungalow spend their time solving crosswords, while media managers in the party HQ sit idly waiting for someone to come and ask questions.

One wonders where the leaders and political workers are? No local Congress political bigwig  is campaigning with Jogi except Pawan Diwan. Veterans like Shayama Charan Shukla and Motilal Vora have taken refuge in the excuse that their sons are contesting the polls and hence they would be busy.

Chief Minister Ajit Jogi goes out early morning for campaigning and comes back in night. Once he leaves his residence, as a Chhattisgarhi proverb goes, not even a bird peeps into his house.