No argument over politics or election till counting day, appeals paanwala in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Pan shops and nukkads might have been the hot spots for opinion holders to discuss politics, who will win elections and why and a lot of information sharing, but now, fed up with the arguments getting toxic, having a nip of threat, this pan kiosk in remote Mungeli district of Chhattisgarh has restricted ‘chunavi charcha’ at his shop. Brandishing a board outside he stated, “Wait for December 3, don’t waste your and my time arguing over politics here.”

When the talk of the town is only politics and elections, it gets on the nerve so much that normal discussions turn into heated arguments and often a scuffle due to differences in opinions, said Mahaveer Singh Thakur, the paan and tea kiosk. He feels that hanging the board of restriction has brought a change and people behave decently.

The Mahaveer paan shop is located right at the centre of town on the ‘chowk’, from where, most of the local population crosses and groups of people visit the place everyday to discuss news and elections over paan and tea.

“With election fever getting high, everything was exciting and people would sit for long hours. There isn’t much to talk or discuss in this small town anyway, therefore, the hot topic , round the clock is ‘who will win’. But eventually, after the voting, there has been heated talks between party supporters mainly from BJP and Congress, who wouldn’t tolerate a word against their candidates,” Thakur told TOI.

The shop is open till 10 PM and they would sit for longer and many times come drunk, he complained.

Moreover, the same discussion over and over again despite knowing that the results will be declared on counting day only, makes them restless and often resort to verbal accusations, Thakur said adding, “when it goes down to caste discussion and accusations, I feel to act responsibly considering it sensitive matter and immediately douse the fiery topic.”

I decided to take a firm step to let people know it’s getting unpleasant for me, Thakur said adding, “I have simply made an appeal to people by board writing, ‘Wait for December 3, don’t waste your and our time over political arguments.’”

People criticized but I said it was just an appeal and would appreciate if followed and surprisingly, they maintain the decorum now, he laughed.

Yeah, the business might get slightly affected but it’s okay, the paan wala said.

Mungeli, a Scheduled Caste reserved constituency is locked in a multi-corner contest with BJP veteran and former minister Punnulal Mohle seeking a reelectionagainst Congress’ Sanjeet Banjare. The constituency recorded 67.4 per cent voter turnout in the second phase of 2023 assembly elections on November 17.