KANPUR: A mathematician like Dr Vijay Narain Pal must be certainly aware of his dim chances against the heavyweights contesting the Kanpur Lok Sabha seat. But with a book in one hand -- his symbol -- and a cellphone in the other, he moves around the city in his Maruti van to seek votes on the lack of development in the city. ``There will never be any real development unless doctors, engineers, scientists and other talented people enter the fray,'' explains this alumni of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

He says BJP MP Jagat Veer Singh has been elected thrice since 1991 but has done nothing. Citing his track record in working for the downtrodden and describing himself as the only ``right'' choice, he says an MP should remain available round the clock. Flaunting his cellphone, he adds, ``Look, I am available for people all the time.'' Though nominees of the major political parties ridicule his candidature, he has been campaigning from morning till night,exhorting people to forget about parties and vote for candidates who can be their ``voice'', thrusting into their hands his one-page manifesto.

BHOPAL: Polling booths may see few of them but parties are resorting to everything to ensure that people come to at least their election meetings. The Congress hired a renowned Bhopal orchestra to keep the crowds entertained during Sonia Gandhi's meeting here on Sunday. The next day, a famous bhajan mandali from Bundelkhand occupied the stage at Atal Behari Vahpayee's rally in the city. And while the BJP has got actor Nitish Bharadwaj of Krishna fame to campaign for its Bhopal candidate, Uma Bharati, Congress rival Suresh Pachauri has summoned the celluloid Rama a.k.a. Arun Govil, ``pitting one God against another''. Also flocking to Bharati's side are film stars Hema Malini and Vinod Khanna. The Congress isn't sweating, for waiting in its wings are Rajesh Khanna and Sunil Dutt.

LUCKNOW: This should ring some alarm bells in the BJP camp. Voters insome rural areas of the seat have decided to boycott the elections in protest against lack of development. Mahona, about 30 km from the state capital, has about 15,000 voters who have been demanding basic amenities for long. This time they have not only put up banners saying ``No development, no vote'' at several places, they have also constituted an ``election boycott committee'' comprising people from various political parties.

Despite being the tehsil headquarters, Mahona presents a picture of neglect. A junior high school building is on the verge of collapsing, threatening the lives of about 300 students. Almost a decade ago, a family welfare centre was established which now houses cattle during the day and gamblers at night. Vajpayee had some time ago visited the area and promised to get a health centre built in the area. Though local people have offered land for the purpose, nothing has happened. And now they are hitting where it hurts.

AMIT SHARMA, YOGESH VAJPEYI AND AGENCIES