Independents add colour to poll campaign in state
From showing might to the BJP and the Congress to reclaiming illegally acquired land, to do something for women, are some of the reasons given by the independent candidates contesting the assembly elections in Jaipur district and its neighbouring areas.
Experts say while most such candidates fail to win the elections, they add colour to the festival of democracy.
Mahesh Narania, 34, an independent candidate from Bagru constituency, who earns his livelihood through three ice-cream carts, has nowadays taken a break from his business. “I am very busy with the election campaign,” says Narania, a father of two.
Unlike many other candidates, Narania does not have a battery of supporters. He holds a portable loudspeaker in his hand and addresses people sitting on his motorbike. “I campaign alone mostly,” he tells.
He claims that he is contesting the elections on the insistence of his community and was confident of victory. Citing himself to be a social worker, he claims to have helped elderly to get their pensions on time.
Another independent, Mahendra Kumar Atal, 32, who owns a small confectionary shop at Rajpura village and is contesting from Shahpura, says, “Often I shut my shop because I have to go out for campaigning,” he says, adding that his win will send a message that even poor can become legislators.
Shivani Kumawat, 27, is also among the independents in the fray from Jaipur. She is contesting from Shahpura constituency. For her being in the poll
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fray is like a “dream come true”. Kumawat, who lives with her mother and two younger brothers at Manoharpur, is also confident of her victory. “I had won college president election in Baba Gangadas Rajkiya Mahila Mahavidyalaya in Shahpura in 2014,” she tells.
“Since it (Baba Gangadas Rajkiya Mahila Mahavidyalaya) is not a post-graduate college, female students in the area are not able to pursue B Ed. My first priority as an MLA will be to make it a post-graduate college, so that the female students can become government teachers,” she says.
There are others who are contesting the polls for “weird” reasons. Ram Lal Danka, 61, a labourer by profession, is contesting to get his land freed from the ones who have allegedly illegally acquired it. “I have to work as a labourer only because some people have unlawfully acquired my land. Once I become an MLA, I will take back the land which is mine,” says Danka, who lives at Sanganer with his wife and three married children. However, he claims, that his bigger aim is to make India “a golden bird” again.
Sanwar Mal is contesting from Phulera to show his “power” to both the Congress and the BJP. “I am contesting the elections to show BJP and Congress who Sanwar Mal is,” he said. His confidence of victory comes from astrology. “Venus, Saturn and Jupiter in my Kundali are making such a constellation that I will win,” he said, claiming that his community was also backing his candidature.