He was `guarding' a small tent on a prime Talkatora Road footpath that houses idols of several deities, against policemen who may have unholy designs to pull it down. The tent has many devotees ranging from nervous new ticket-seekers to old leaders who want to stay in the reckoning.

In the run-up to the elections, the Delhi Congress office is a changed place. It is no more the dilapidated, musty hang-out of have-beens. It is now a white-washed, well-lit place, and has not yet acquired any paan stains on its walls.

But then there is more to politics than dirty cups of tea. In terms of religion, the Congress office is putting up a tough fight against the Delhi BJP office in the neighbouring Pandit Pant Marg. While the BJP office has just about managed to garland the entire building, the Congress has not even left the road outside untouched by its religious fervour.

At the entrance of the office, people are welcomed with a portrait of Ganesha on the road. For the last one month, spending about Rs 30,000, workers of the party have organised the Bhagwati Jagaran. The money for the purpose was collected from various members of Parliament and the legislative assembly. A massive Jagran was organised yesterday at the office led by Brij Mohan Bhamma, a Congressman hoping for a ticket from Gole Market. Not too many people turned up. But considering that just 44 days are left for the elections, the crowds can only increase.