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ELECTIONS '96

Campaign Trail/Ipsita Roy

Witch's spell has little effect on Hoogly voters

Tara Shankar Sahay in Bansberia, West Bengal

It was over an hour but the diani (witch) had still not arrived. Yet, the local residents waited patiently for Congress candidate Ipsita Roy, who is contesting the elections from Hoogly. Her rivals are Tapan Das Gupta of the Trinamul Congress and the defending CPM candidate, Roopchand Pal.

An open jeep screeched to a halt: the semi-urban crowd craned their collective necks to see the daini. Instead, they saw an attractive woman with silky hair and large, limpid eyes that appeared to reflect the mysteries of the occult world in which she dabbled. However, keeping local sensibilities in mind, this city-bred, self-confessed witch had arranged her ghomta (pallu) over her head. She smiled, folding her hands in a gentle namaste, as she proceeded towards the jute mill where the meeting had been scheduled.

A small group of Congress workers pleaded for silence, saying the candidate was about to speak.

Roy was brief when asked about her background. Born in Calcutta, spent her teens in Delhi. Stumbled on witchcraft and the occult in Montreal, Canada. Was then initiated by some elderly ladies to a wicca (which exclusively concentrates on 'white' magic rituals for the benefit of mankind). Returned to India and married Jayanata Roy, Eastern Railway's divisional manager. Is an active witch and describes herself as a social worker.

She exhorts the gathering to vote for her so that she can promote local developmental issues in Parliament. Anirban, who works in the Bansberia jute mill, wants to specifically know what she can do for them. "I can do a lot," she retorts, "my going to Parliament will immensely benefit Hoogly." She points out that the CPM government has ignored the workers in West Bengal's jute belt, including Banberia. If elected, she promised to push for a speedy solution to their problems.

Roy does not let rumours of a vicious whisper campaign in some parts of the constituency bother her. She knows people are flocking to her meetings to see the 'witch', but says they will vote for her because she is sincere.

Asked why she got the Congress ticket for the Hoogly seat for which there were numerous aspirants, she said she enjoyed the ashirwad of the Congress leadership, both at the Centre and state levels. She, however, frowned on the suggestion that she got the ticket because of her direct access to 10, Janpath.

There is little doubt that her husband put a large number of his railway staff at her disposal to aid her ongoing campaign. The CPM's Roopchand Pal acknowledged that railways staff were aiding her campaign, but added, "She is not even a lightweight. Nothing is going to help her." There are 1,137,418 voters in the constituency -- the male-female equation at 587,968-549,458. Muslims voters constitute a negligible representation.

Roy finished her speech and prepared to move towards the next meeting at a neighbouring jute mill. Asked to comment on the rumour that noted film star Rekha had been coming to her for help to maintain her figure, the self-confessed witch said, "I help many people. Why should I disclose their names?"

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