Ramtahal Chowdhary (left) sees a saffron surge ahead

Ranchi, April 25: Ramtahal Choudhary comes out of his house and takes a deep breath in his small garden at Ormanjhi. A cool draught fans his face. “The weather is pleasant today. It is the BJP’s wind. Even the gods are feeling good,” he said. Just then his cell phone rings and he retreats to a corner muttering over the phone.

Once in office, he finds himself surrounded by around 30 men clad in spotless white kurtas. But he is not irritated. “I want you all to go to your respective areas and request the people to be with the party. Many still don’t know how to use EVMs. Teach them with the help of dummies.”

Just then one among the crowd says, “Choudhary ji, Rekha Sahay was in Ashoknagar last night visiting every house.” To this, he laughs, “Let them do whatever they want. The people are intelligent. They know better.”

In the meantime, 10 people enter his house with folded hands. Some even touch his feet. Choudhary invites them to sit down. “Choudharyji, I am Zabir’s son. My entire family is with you. You are going trounce your opponent,” says one of them. Ramtahal tries to place him. “If people like you are with me, then I am sure I will win for the fifth time in a row.” All of them chant “Ramtahal Ranchika Ram hai (Ramtahal is lord Ram of Ranchi)”.

His close attendants are glued to his cell phone. One of them runs in and hands over the mobile phone. Ramtahal jokes with the caller, “Saab, Feel Good hai na?” Then he disappears inside.

Just then, another group arrives. But they are stopped. It is lunch time After lunch, he goes towards his car. “I am going to the Ramtahal Choudhary School in Booti.”

On the way, he sees a poster of his Congress opponent and says, “Where was he for the past 15 years? He had totally disappeared. And now he comes back begging for votes. No one will vote for him.”