Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Beniwal banks on crusader image

- Arvind Singh arvind.singh@hindustant­imes.com

Nagaur, the heart of farmer politics in Rajasthan, is seeing a triangular fight in this elections. Here the contest is mainly between three Jat leaders, sitting Congress MP Jyoti Mirdha, BJP’s pick Chotu Ram Chaudhary and Independen­t candidate Hanuman Beniwal.

Mirdha is grand-daughter stalwart Jat leader Nathuram Mirdha while Chaudhary is former chairman of Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and considered close to chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Independen­t MLA Hanuman Beniwal is sitting MLA from Khinwsar assembly seat.

Beniwal is reportedly getting support from a section of aggrieved workers of both Congress and BJP camp. A section of BJP workers was aggrieved as they termed Chaudhary as “outsider” while some in the Congress faction was upset with Mirdha’s candidatur­e due to internal disaffecti­on in party, said a source.

The Nagaur seat is vital for both BJP and Congress as it has been the nerve centre of Jat politics in the state, a community which directly hold sways on half of the parliament­ary seats in Rajasthan. The area is dominated by Jats followed by Muslim, SCs and Rajputs. Congress is banking on support of Nathu-Panthis, the staunch supporters of Nathuram Mirdha while BJP is riding on Modi wave. However, Narendra Modi’s rally in Jayal, a SC stronghold, had seen not more than 20,000 spectators on Monday. NAGAUR: Beniwal starts his day early in the morning by meeting veteran leaders. His caravan comprises three Scorpios and two Bolero followed by a fleet of jeeps. Beniwal does not follow a routine diet and eats mostly in his cars or during late night while on the daytime he could be mostly spotted chewing his favourite betel leaves.

“BJP government has registered five cases against me in past three months because I raised farmers’ issues in Nagaur. Education – BA, LLB

Assets (as submitted during nomination filing in 2009)

Total assets: ` 2,74,03,097 crore

Fixed assets: Agricultur­e land, non agricultur­e land, building, houses:

` 2,39,34,705 crore

Total moveable assets: ` 34,68,390 Vehicles: Hyundai Santro, Mahindra Xylo, Scorpio and two buses worth `20,17,131 Bullion and jewellery: 1500 gram gold and 1000 gram silver valued at ` 8,64,385 lakh Deposits in banks: ` 3,10,000 lakh Deposits in financial institutio­ns and nonbanking financial companies: ` 2,16,876 lakh

Bonds, debentures and shares in companies: Nil Entitlemen­t Spent PROMISES MADE On the other hand Congress candidate Jyoti Mirdha did not come in the area in the past five year. She has done nothing in the area. So, people are supporting me in large numbers,” Hanuman Beniwal said.

Beniwal announced his entry into the Nagaur’s poll ring after holding a public meeting in which he claimed representa­tives of all castes were present and declared their support for him.

During his campaign he regularly reminds the voters that he is one of them and will win with their blessings only.”

RAM SINGH KASWAN, 68, BJP MP CHURU

Connecting Churu with board gauge train line School halls in Bhadara at seven places

A shed for public meeting in Ramgarh

Hall for advocates in Churu district headquarte­rs MAJOR HEADS – Drinking water facilities, roads, rooms in schools, public sheds for meetings

PROMISES NOT KEPT

Bungi drinking water scheme under Aapni

Yojna is still incomplete Churu yet to be connected with broad-gauge lines to Hanumangar­h

Promise of National Highway connecting Sirsa and Jhunjhunu.

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 ??  ?? Independen­t candidate from Nagaur Hanuman Beniwal addresses a gathering in Khokhar village in the district. HIMANSHU VYAS/HT PHOTO
Independen­t candidate from Nagaur Hanuman Beniwal addresses a gathering in Khokhar village in the district. HIMANSHU VYAS/HT PHOTO

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