At a time when major political parties are spending crores of rupees on big-bang poll activities, puny political outfits are fighting it out on shoe-string election budgets ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 -- merely the cost of a scooter.

Their budgets may be small, but that hasn't stopped them from taking on the big-wigs of the political arena.

The hitherto unknown Jai Maha Bharat Party which has no specific budget of its own, has fielded its candidate Mohd Afaq against Union Law and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal and BJP's Delhi unit chief Harsh Vardhan from Chandni Chowk area.

"My party has asked me to contest from this area. This is my first time. The party has given me no money to spend. Till date, I have spent Rs 25,000-30,000 approximately from my own pocket. I am using photocopied pamphlets to save money. I am putting my best foot forward to spread awareness about our party's existence," said 49-year-old Afaq.

These small parties and candidates, however, admit their chances of winning are feeble. They maintain that it's the "passion and determination" to change the society that keeps them in the poll fray.

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