It's poll gupshup at this Punjab gossip club

HOSHIARPUR: Gossip has often been dismissed as blather with no useful function. But in Punjab's Hoshiarpur town, a unique gossip club has decided to make its idle natter matter. So what's on their grapevine: a decision to not vote for rich candidates whose assets have multiplied unusually.
The club was established a few years ago by R K Sood who, after retiring as an assistant engineer, realised that gup-shup with friends was a good way to keep people updated and involved.After all, there's a whole lot of stuff people need to know and can't learn anywhere else, he points out.
The members ��� men only ��� meet at their one-room premises on Una road and discuss everything from domestic problems to national issues. But ever since election dates were announced, the gossip club has been kept busy discussing the merits and demerits of various parties and politicians.
"Honesty is what I am looking for as a voter," says Vinok Kumar, a retired circle superintendent from the public works department and member of the club.
At the end of every gossip session, the club paints the wall outside with the message that comes out of the chatter. For now, the members have decided to back Manmoham Singh. "We feel there is no better person to lead the country at the moment and after a lot of debate amongst our members, we decided to back his party," says Sood.
In Hoshiarpur, clearly, the writing is on the wall!