Homemakers to farmers: Noida, Gzb to see a multi-cornered fight

Noida/Ghaziabad: From homemakers to pensioners, as many as 18 independent candidates have filed their nominations from eight assembly seats in Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad.
While the youngest among them is a 25-year-old housewife, the oldest is a 71-year-old pensioner, a retired SBI manager. Apart from them, there are two Delhi University (DU) teachers who would contest elections from Sahibabad and Ghaziabad, respectively, an illiterate candidate who earns his livelihood through marketing products and an MA student.
Also among the 18 independents are a BJP rebel — Loni Nagar Palika Parishad chairman Ranjeeta Dhama, who resigned a day earlier. Of the total independent candidates, five are women. While there are three candidates each from Noida, Ghaziabad, Sahibabad, Jewar and Dadri seats, two from Muradnagar and one from Loni, no independent candidate has come forward in Modinagar for far.
Most candidates want to make a difference to the society and say they have the support of the people in their constituency, while there are some who want to set an example that “genuine” and qualified people should represent the communities above the party line and dynasty politics. Many of them do not have political backgrounds and would contest for the first time. Anita Yadav (25), the homemaker from Sahibabad, decided to contest the polls just 15 days ago. “I want to do something for women. I faced a lot of discrimination while visiting government offices, which made me think about our plight. I have the full support of my family.”
Natthu Singh Chaudhary, the retired SBI manager and Muradnagar candidate, contested UP assembly polls in 2017 and Lok Sabha elections in 2019. “I am asking people to move over caste and dynasty and vote for people who can raise your issues,” he said.
Sapna Bansal, a DU professor having MBA and PhD degrees, said she would fight as an independent from Sahibabad. “I was associated with ABVP and BJP for a long time and also wrote 14 books, two of which are on former prime minister AB Vajpayee. But, I am contesting independently and wish to resolve local issues if elected.” She promises to open five government schools, one hospital and 100 pink toilets in Sahibabad. Likewise, Ashutosh Gupta, another professor of Satyawati College and a candidate from Ghaziabad constituency, said, “I am contesting against local MLA Atul Garg, who did not fulfil even 5% of promises he made during the last election. I am a PhD holder and want to work for the people.”