"I will vote for the BJP, but only on the lines that they are best of the worst," he says. "The SP ruled for five years and the result is here for us to see -- total lawlessness.”"

Can youngsters like Rahul Gandhi make a difference?

"I don't know about Rahul, but see what the youngsters have made of themselves. There was Pramod Mahajan’s son, who everyone said was the future. Look at what he has made of himself. So, I don't have any faith in youngsters. A politician is a politician, young or old," is his reply.

Like most other people, Ravi too feels the Election Commission has "done a truly great job."

"That does not mean that criminal elements and corruption will have no role to play in these elections, but they can't have a free run like they had when the local police was in charge of security," he adds.

"It is sad that just when the EC has taken the initiative, the people have lost interest," he adds. "They must come out and vote. The turnout has been very low in the previous phases.

"If you are campaigning against AIDS, all you can do is advocate that people wear condoms," he continues. "You can't do anything beyond it. Likewise, while conducting elections, the EC can only ensure that all measures are in place for peaceful polling. It can’t force people to come out of their houses and vote."

On Amitabh's advertisement voicing support for UP, he says with a smile, "Amitabh Bachchan is a good actor, nothing more."

Photographs: N V Reuben
Also see: Coverage of Uttar Pradesh polls 2007

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