New Delhi:
It is not just political temperatures which are soaring, the mercury is rising and rising fast. But how are our politicians beating the heat and how are their supporters coping with the unrelenting sun?
It's 42 degrees Celsius in Bihar's Samastipur, but people have been waiting here for over four hours for Sonia Gandhi. And a vendor is doing great business as party workers and supporters try and beat the heat.
And with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh campaigning in Maharashtra's Latur, where temperatures have soared to 44 degrees, every effort is being made to ensure the Prime Minister keeps his cool.
In Orissa's Kendrapara, the crowd waited for over an hour in the blazing sun for Chief Minister Navin Patnaik. The heat wave in Orissa has already claimed 24 lives and it's an endurance test even for the most loyal supporter.
"Politicians should not campaign in this heat. Early mornings and evenings are much better," one of the local said.
But in the race for votes, politicians say its no sweat. They swear by water, lots of it.
"I drink a lot of water and carry Nimboo Pani with me," said Priyanka Gandhi who is campaigning for brother Rahul in Amethi, which simmers at 42 degrees.
And a Congress candidate in Uttar Pradesh's Akbarpur, Raja Ram Pal, seems to have found the ideal way of attracting people. He is giving out ice cream as he goes campaigning in his constituency.