"Spirited" battle for votes in the land of booze

DAMAN, February 26: Elections are never mundane in this picturesque Union Territory on the southern coast of Gujarat always known for its fishing, smuggling and liquor. Once a safe haven for smugglers, it is now famous for its beer bars on beach. With candidates eager to pay any price for votes, this tipplers’ paradise is witnessing a spirited battle for the country’s smallest parliamentary constituency, 72 sq km and 73,000 electorates, smaller than any Assembly constituency in neighbouring Gujarat.

Though everybody here speaks Gujarati no one is willing to merge with Gujarat, the move has been vehemently opposed here. They, in fact, want a separate Assembly for Daman-Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Which is why all three candidates from Daman have common poll plank – an Assembly for the two Union Territories.

An interesting aspect of Daman’s politics is that political parties have rendered irrelevant here. For the last three decades it is the Maachi (fishermen) community of Daman which has dominated thepolitics of Daman-Diu, irrespective of the candidates’ party affiliation. “A Maachi was always elected even the second runner used to be a Maachi”, says Congress candidate, Dr Jivan Prabhakar. Dr Prabhakar, Former MLA, Goa, Daman & Diu Assembly is himself a Maachi . While Dr Prabhakar’s rivals campaign, he doesn’t forgo his afternoon nap. Little wonder his election office is deserted. The Reason – two-time MP and Maachi Devjibhai Tandel, a man of `clean image’ is also in the fray as BJP candidate.