Poll 98: Key Campaigners

India Today
February 23, 1998

POLL 98
Key Campaigners

Sonia Gandhi
Power Centre

"Devotion to India brings me before you, not desire for political office."
Sriperumbudur, January 11

" The Congress has made mistakes. But it is the only party that can give India stability under an able leadership."
Sriperumbudur, January 11

"I am not only the daughter of Bharat Mata. It is the land of my suhaag too."
Udaipur, February 4

"Gandhiji's killers are sweet-talking and misleading the people." Mohanlalganj, February 8

Campaign Transport: Executive aircraft, helicopters, Ambassador
Food: Sandwiches and coffee
Clothes: Saris, salwar-kurta
USP: The Nehru-Gandhi tag

A B Vajpayee Atal Behari Vajpayee
Prime Ministerial Candidate

"What is Sonia's sorry, sorry? First a crime, then sorry? Congress must be severely punished."
Lucknow, January 29

"If I am the right man, the party must be right too."
India Today, January 29

"BJP will punish every corrupt Congressman."
Ludhiana, February 8

"What does Sonia know about poverty? I am the son of a poor schoolteacher."
Delhi, February 11

Campaign Transport: Small plane, helicopter, Ambassador
Food: Locally available food
Clothes: Dhoti-kurta, Nehru jacket, shawl draped over shoulder
USP: Oratory; persoanl popularity

Jyoti Basu
LF Prime Ministerial Candidate

"Sonia Gandhi is a housewife who has been pushed into political campaigning by a bankrupt Congress party."
Agartala, February 6

"BJP is an uncivilised, barbaric party and a part of the Congress in West Bengal has joined hands with it."
Jadavpur, February 7

"Our party has many competent leaders in West Bengal. It will have no problem in finding my successor."
TV interview, February 11

Campaign Transport: Ambassador
Food: Sandwiches and tea
Clothes: Dhoti-kurta, waistcoat
USP: Longest-serving political administrator