Foreign journalists take a pie of Indian polls

NEW DELHI: It not only kept the Indian media busy, but the country's electoral exercise arose equal interest among foreign scribes who have been camping here to understand the nitty gritties of the poll process in the world's largest democracy.

A huge number of correspondents and camerapersons along with their crews have descended upon the country since the start of the first phase of the polls on April 16 and are now capturing the climax of the entire exercise.

"The Indian elections are like a whirlpool...full of colours and ecstasy. There is a lot of energy in the entire process and it feels like a churning of a whirling washing machine," Linda Blanke, a freelance journalist with a major US daily, told PTI at the 24 Ashok road BJP headquarters.

Blanke, who came here last month, said: "It was enriching and educative to see the political leaders wooing the electorate...sometimes deep in the interior villages which hardly has approachable roads and sometimes in the urban areas where some candidates reach by helicopters".

With the counting of ballots marking the end of the poll process today, the foreign scribes now plan to lap up the entire activity with the coverage of the victory processions and handshakes and hugs among prominent political leaders.