AMETHI: The election for
Amethi seat in the Nehru-Gandhi bastion is turning out to be an interesting contest between the 'Maharaj' of Amethi Sanjay Sinh of BJP and Maharaji Devi, wife of former Samajwadi Party minister Gayatri Prajapati as SP candidate.
The Maharaj and his men are campaigning in style with a fleet of cars while Singh tries to rekindle the ties between the royal family and people.
Walking
up to a village head in Munshiganj, Sanjay Sinh asks: "How are you Pradhan ji?"
"I am fine
Maharaj ji, with your blessings," he replied with folded hands.
The news of Maharaj ji's arrival spreads like fire and locals rush in, some raising slogans. Sinh stops those keen to touch his feet and says he needs their vote as love and blessing.
"This is the time to show your love for Maharaj ji. This election is a matter of his pride," says a man with Singh who then reads out a list of achievements.
He also counters his challenger saying, "He (Gayatri Prajapati) has been convicted by court. Do not fall prey in their trap."
Sinh is also facing challenge from his former wife Garima Sinh, the sitting MLA, though there are rumours that some members of her team are quietly aiding Maharaj ji.
SP's Maharaji Devi is going door to door with her daughters and making emotional appeal to people, seeking support and claiming that BJP has trapped her husband and dumped him in jail.
Maharaji even breaks down while sharing her 'plight' to women voters and asks them to help her in her fight for justice by voting for the cycle symbol.
Congress candidate Ashish Shukla is making the fight three cornered. A party hopper, Shukla switched from Congress to BSP and then to BJP. Back in Congress, he is trying again after having contested elections thrice unsuccessfully.
He urges voters to consider his hard work all these years. "This is my final try. Please give me a chance," he tells voters in Gauriganj. His family members, including his daughter in law, are also seeking votes for him.
However, he faces challenge from disgruntled local party leaders who see him as an outsider. BSP candidate Ragini Tewari is wife of old loyal Shashikant Tewari.