Bihar elections: Bodh Gaya set to witness ‘symbolic’ husband-wife fight

GAYA: At home, they are made for each other. However, when it comes to politics, they are rivals, at least on paper. Kumar Sarvjeet and his wife Seema Kumari have filed nomination papers from same constituency, Bodh Gaya.
Sarvjeet is seeking re-election from Bodh Gaya as Grand Alliance (GA) candidate on the ticket of RJD, while Seema has filed nomination as independent. During scrutiny on October 9, papers of both were found admissible.The deadline for withdrawal of nomination elapsed on October 12, but none of the two withdrew their papers.
Having tested Covid positive, Sarvjeet was undergoing treatment at AIIMS-Patna. He, therefore, filed his paper through online mode instead of appearing physically in the office of returning officer of his constituency.
Sarvjeet, who was elected from Bodh Gaya as RJD candidate in 2015, said, “I got myself admitted at AIIMS-Patna on October 1 from where I filed my nomination through online mode. Scared about my health condition and to avoid any risk of my nomination getting rejected, I asked my wife to file papers as independent.”
He added, “Of course, she is my rival on paper. However, my wife has taken command of the campaigning in my favour along with my cousins and party activists. She is requesting people to vote for me. I have returned home after being discharged from the hospital. While distributing relief materials among migrant workers, some of my family members, including wife, had tested Covid positive. My mother died of the virus.”
Apart from the husband-wife duo, former MP Hari Manjhi is in the fray as BJP candidate, while LJP has fielded ex-MLA Ajay Paswan from Bodh Gaya. Voting in Bodh Gaya is scheduled in the first phase on October 28, when 2,88,981 voters, including 1,38,655 women, will exercise their franchise.
Regarding his priorities, Sarvjeet said, “Modified security arrangements in and around Bodh Gaya that do not disturb the business prospects of local businessmen is necessary. I will also work to open a college between Fatehpur and Tankuppa.”