Ahmedabad bootleggers gearing up for polls

The bootleggers of the city are a harassed lot. The elections and the festive season have almost doubled the demand for liquor leaving them desperate to bridge the supply gap. The recent raids by police on consignments entering the city have only added to their woes.

Needless to say, the bootleggers have upped their guard and are even constantly changing the place where they store their haul.

They have already geared up to cope with the rise in demand and have ensured an increase in supply from Chandigarh, Daman and Rajasthan. They are not only relying on trucks to stock their consignment but are also making use of small cars.

Meanwhile, the existing booze shortage, coupled with the upcoming elections has made some leaders jittery. Sources, who know of the bootlegging business, told DNA that many local politicians are queuing up to get as much supply of booze as they can before the elections. They said the festive season is also responsible for the rise in consignment making its way to the city.

The sources further said that thought there has been no increase in the price of liquor, many wholesalers are stocking up to meet the festive and election demand. According to sources, liquor worth crores of rupees is expected to be sold in places where the election is scheduled to take place.

"Fifty percent of this has already been distributed in Saurashtra and south Gujarat region," said the source. Usually the responsibility of distributing booze among voters is given to the party workers of a particular area. "The party worker first gives an estimate of the number of bottles needed and later on delivers it to the voters," said the source.

Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) of average quality is distributed among middle class voters while the rich and upper middle class voters are influenced through better quality booze offered at group meetings sponsored by politicians in the name of party workers.