It’s Rani vs Rani on Amethi royal turf
AMETHI: Seventy-five-year-old Pancham, the ‘dhobi’ (washer man) of Bhupati Bhavan royal palace in Amethi can’t decide which party to vote for this time.
Amethi goes to polls in the fifth phase on February 27. As per tradition, he casts the first vote even before Congress Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Sinh, known as the Raja of Amethi.
Pancham, however, is in a dilemma as he is unable to choose between the two Ranis — Sinh’s wife Rani Ameeta Sinh, who is fighting as a Congress candidate from the Amethi assembly seat and estranged spouse Rani Garima Singh, who has been fielded by the BJP .
“I am confused. I have to choose one Rani. As a washer man of the royal house for 58 years, I find this task the most challenging in my life,” said Pancham.
Sanjay has been campaigning for Rani Ameeta. So, Pancham may follow his master’s choice, whose prestige he feels is at stake. Others in the constituency may make their own choice at the polling booth.
Sanjay and Ameeta do not speak much about Garima on the campaign trail, but they do take on the BJP. Sanjay has often blamed the BJP for creating a division in his family. At a public meeting that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had addressed on Thursday, Sanjay said the BJP had enacted a drama in Amethi as well.
Referring to Garima, he said, “The woman, who does not know the BJP and Amethi, is now a BJP candidate.”
Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, known as the Raja of Tiloi, is another candidate from a royal house in the poll fray. The Tiloi assembly constituency, where he is a BJP candidate, is part of Amethi Lok Sabha seat.
As a SP candidate, Singh lost the election to Mohammed Muslim of the Congress in Tiloi assembly seat in 2012. Singh, who has been with the BJP and the SP, rejoined the BJP again a few days before 2017 polls. Mohammad Muslim’s son Mohammad Saood is fighting the election as a BSP candidate.