BJP banks on saathiya magic

LUCKNOW: He is BJP''s newly found ''Saathiya''who showed enough ''Dum'' on Sunday while campaigning for Prime Minister Vajpayee in the city, especially since his ''Company'' was making the audience feel good.
Vivek Oberoi is just another feather in the saffron cap, though he denies he joined the party. "I have not joined any party, but Atalji has done the country so much that my suggestion would be to vote for BJP," said Vivek, who was in the state capital along with his father Suresh Oberoi.
Meanwhile, Suresh Oberoi explained that he had approached Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani to permit him to campaign for BJP.
Trying to sweep all matters under the ''feel good'' carpet Suresh Oberoi remarked: "I only see the positive side, I don''t see the negative side. If a person does eight good out ten, then why do we only look at mistakes?"
And the ''Masti'' famed hero, Vivek was quick to point out about the huge foreign reserves that country has raked in during Vajpayee''s tenure. "He has also started irrigation projects for the country, we know that irrigation is extremely important for a country like ours," he added.
So does Vajpayee, feel so insecure in his constituency that he has to fall back on stars like Vivek to campaign for him? The reply came from the father: "Do you think all who campaign, do so because they are weak. Should all the politicians just sit at home and do nothing at all?"
And what about the sari stampede, that cost 22 people their lives? "It was an accident, it could happen to anyone," he replied.
Vivek, on his part, said, "Atal is a star himself, why would he require anyone''s help in campaigning for him," when questioned about he, as a film star, helping the party draw the crowd.
"If Atalji was to walk in here wouldn''t you all (mediapersons) turn your camera and attention towards him rather than us," remarked Suresh Oberoi.