Back from attending a Congress public meeting in a park near the Hauz Khas main market, shopkeeper R.P. Sharma and his friends animatedly discuss the issues of Elections '99. Taking time off from weighing quantities of atta and dal for his customers, Sharma sat through the entire meeting, which ended with Manmohan Singh's address. Later, holding court outside his store, he declares that Kargil, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Sonia Gandhi are the only issues in this election. Kargil figures on top of his list.

Prod Sharma further and he admits that a lot of the conversation in the marketplace revolves around Kargil. There are no posters or banners about the Pakistani intrusion and victory.Instead, there are frequent reminders from campaigning party workers, who mention the ``war fought on those icy heights'' at the drop of a hat. The context, of course depends on the party they belong to.

``There are no issues this time, are there?'' questions J.N. Mago, a factory owner and resident of Sudarshan Park. ``Everybody is talking about Kargil and the deshi versus videshi concept. Local issues are mentioned in passing. This entire exercise is going to be about who won or lost the Kargil war and who will make a more capable Prime Minister.''

Panditji points heavenward whenever anyone talks politics with him. ``The only thing that concerns me revolves around the running of this mandir. Politicians put me off and Kargil is something I don't want to hear about. I have seen them come and go. I am also witness to all their unkept promises. They can rave and rant about Kargil and the rest, it doesn't matter anymore.''

People like him hardly deter BJP workers from highlighting the salient points of the``great Kargil victory''. And it has not stopped local leaders of both parties from harping on it.

At every gathering, while the crowd waits for the candidates to arrive, they are entertained by local leaders. Following the usual routine, speaker after speaker climbs up on the makeshift podium, talking politics and flaying his arms in the air.

It's happening this time too. The only new aspect is Kargil. Every small leader spends four of his five minutes on stage talking about Kargil. The BJP man talks about victory and the Congressman about the failures.

``I have been hearing about it only,'' says rickshaw-puller M.D. Tubark. ``People discuss it and a lot of them are deciding whom to vote for based on it. When it is the issue on which elections are being fought, we (the voter) don't really have a choice, do we?''

The only people not talking Kargil are Congress leader Manmohan Singh and BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the two men vying for the South Delhi seat. They seem to be the only people whoremember that the Election Commission is listening.

Moreover, as Malhotra puts it: ``We are aware that speakers before us are talking about these issues. I avoid mentioning them because the audience will get bored.''