Wives of contestants fight no lesser a battle

IN THE HIGH OCTANE ELECTION SEASON, THE WOMEN ADMIT THAT THEY TOO HAVE FACED SEVERAL MOMENTS OF FRUSTRATION

PATNA: Behind every successful man is a woman and more so, when the man in question is a candidate contesting a high-profile assembly election in Bihar.

Wives of candidates running in the Bihar polls are always on their toes these days. They admit that there have been moments of frustration.

“Often the lunch box that I give him is brought back: he doesn’t eat the rotis or the vegetables. He hardly gets time to have a proper lunch and manages the day with just some roadside snacks or light food. It’s very frustrating but that’s how it is. He cannot help it,” says Deepmala Shrivastav, wife of Nitin Naveen, who is representing the BJP from Bankipore.

Shrivastav says he does not even have time to enjoy a good breakfast as he leaves home by six in the morning.

Alka Rajak, wife of JD(U) candidate Shyam Rajak, says as the doctor had asked him to not skip breakfast, he manages to have some Daliya.

“Even at that time, he is busy talking to the people on his phone. And on some days, we don’t even get time to meet,” she says.

The wives of other candidates have similar tales. But despite the erratic schedules of these candidates, their wives ensure that their husbands are upbeat throughout the day.

Deepmala says she couldn’t participate in her husband’s campaigns as she is a government official. “But I do know that his dedication to his voters will come in good stead.”

BJP candidate Arun Sinha’s wife Rekha Sinha and Alka Rajak say they will campaign for their spouses.

“I don’t have children, so I consider the voters of Phulwari and Punpun my children. I will ask them to vote for Shyam,” Alka says.