‘It was my decision; my father did not play role in getting ticket for me’

The 25yearold daughter of Ashok Choudhary, a Bihar Minister, says she is ready to face all challenges in Samastipur; her aim is to work for economic development of constituency, she adds

Fielded from the reserved seat of Samastipur in Bihar by the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), 25yearold Shambhavi Kunal Choudhary is the youngest Dalit woman to contest the Lok Sabha election in the State.

Her father, Ashok Choudhary, is a Minister in the Nitish Kumar Cabinet and her grandfather Mahvir Choudhary, from the Congress, has also served as Minister. Ms. Choudhary said that her father had not played any role in getting ticket for her and that she was ready to face the challenges before her. Excerpts:

What made you take the plunge into politics?

I chose politics because I wanted to make a difference in society and I feel that politics allows you to be an agent of change. You can lead people by example.

I come from a political family and, as a child, I always saw my grandfather and father serving the people of their constituencies.

NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, keep attacking “dynasty politics”. How do you defend your position?

I feel that because of my father, my fatherinlaw (former IPS officer Kishore Kunal) and my grandfather, I may have easy passage of communication. I could have had a better chance at being heard, being understood, but the whole process of getting ticket from the LJP (RV) and being able to establish the communication with party president Mr. Chirag Paswan has been an independent decision. He has a personal relationship with my husband (Saayan Kunal). So, we have been talking as friends or you could say that he has played the role of elder brother in my husband’s life. It was only when the election was announced that I told him that I have a keen interest in politics and I wanted to contest. So, the whole process of getting ticket is an independent decision and my father played no role in that.

What are the challenges you anticipate?

The biggest challenge is that I feel people will target me because I am not from Samastipur. I was not born and brought up in Samastipur but I think that it is not important for a leader to be born in a place to do good work in it. A good leader is somebody who has vision, who has the capacity to lead others and is sensitive to other people’s emotions and demands. He or she should have the vision to grow the constituency economically. I know I am going to face the challenges and I am ready.