Sholay's Basanti solicits vote for BJP

Varanasi, May 2 (UNI) ''Chal dhanno chal aaj teri basanti ki izzat ka sawaal hai,'' the dialogue delivered by dream girl of yesteryears Hema Malini in 1975 blockbuster 'Sholay' is still famous among cine-goers.

Now a Rajya Sabha MP, Ms Malini renarrated the hit dialogue yesterday not to awaken the sense of her 'dhanno', but to galvanise the voters of Kolasala assembly seat here to vote BJP candidate Ajay Rai to a hat-trick of victories in a constituency once considered a communist citadel.

''Aaj apki basanti ki izzat ko bachana hai...is liye Ajay Rai ko Kolasala se jitana hai'' (Vote BJP's Ajay Rai to victory for saving Basanti's pride), Ms Malini said to a rapturous crowd at the Basani Ramlilla ground in the largely rural constituency.

While the BJP MP delivered the hit dialogue from the 70's block buster film another BJP stalwart, five time MLA from Varanasi (South) seat Shyamdeo Roy Chaudhury took cue from 'Khaike paan banaras wala...khul jaaye band akal ka taala,' -- hit number from Big B starrer Don -- to unlock the voting power of his supporters.

On a boat, Mr Chaudhury welcomed his voters between the Rajendra Prasad Ghat and Bhainsasoor Ghat -- dotting the Ganga river -- with a plateful of Banaras Paan yesterday.

''Ab is Banarasi Paan ki izzat apke hathon mein hai,'' said the former Uttar Pradesh minister, who is famous among his voters for his accessibility.

He is locked in a tough battle with the Congress candidate Daya Shankar Mishra 'Dayalu' and SP's Dilip Dey.

UNI