Just like the weather prevailing in the city at the moment, the election atmosphere in Kolkata is also hot and humid, with no breeze whatsoever evident in any direction, even though the first phase of polling is over in West Bengal and other phases come closer.
Unlike other times, the people of a city that doesn’t usually hide its emotions and opinions are cautious about making predictions, and even if they think a particular party may have the advantage — whether it is the Trinamool Congress or the BJP — they are choosing their words with care.
“The people, this time, appear to be cynical. The election tempo has not picked up yet. Maybe their great expectations have been belied so many times that for them, it is a choice between the devil and the deep sea. That might have made them somewhat indifferent,” Subir Ghosh, a teacher of journalism, who has been voting in the General Elections since 1967, said.
