Elections; different music

It is 5 p.m. Traffic builds up. We are in Vyalikaval. Traffic slows down and a different music of drums and cymbals greets us. The music of slogans and jingles. On the Vyalikaval roads the election caravan of the JD(S) is in slow motion.

We are in Vyalikaval for the evening's Ramanavami music concert at the local Sri Rama Temple.

We are early and so we stop to have a cup of coffee and the campaigners engulf us. Even the candidate comes in and greets diners tucking in set doses or rava idlis or nursing a hot cup of coffee.

The party's candidate is a former police officer. Abdul Azeem. While the poll music blares Azeez greets the tiffin diners and the caravan moves on.

Elections here are due on April 17.