Eye on civic polls, politicians cash in on India-Pakistan match

With the civic elections scheduled early next year, politicians are cashing in on the much-hyped World Cup semi-final clash between India and Pakistan at Mohali on Wednesday to woo voters.

With the civic elections scheduled early next year, politicians are cashing in on the much-hyped World Cup semi-final clash between India and Pakistan at Mohali on Wednesday to woo voters.

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They are booking playgrounds where the match will be played on giant screens with music and refreshments thrown in.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena legislator Bala Nandgaonkar will screen the India-Pakistan match in a hall in Abhudaya Nagar at Kalachowkie.

“Our cadre wanted to watch the match together,” he said.

Congress corporartor Upendra Doshi will set up a large screen on a playground and has hired a DJ to entertain the crowd.

“The DJ will play music when a Pakistani gets out or an Indian player hits a four or a six.”

Not to be left behind, the BJP organised a music programme at Vile Parle on Tuesday, which was attended by former cricketers Dilip Vengsarkar and Sameer Dighe.

“We just wanted to convey to the team that we wish them all the luck to defeat Pakistan,” said BJP leader Parag Alavani. BJP’s Goregaon unit will also screen the match and provide refreshments.

The Sena will screen the match in 15 places in the eastern suburbs.

Denying charges that it was to gain political mileage, Sena leader Bhau Korgaonkar said: “People requested us that they wanted to see the match together.”