Rajasthan
Village: A village unites to help 2 brothers win 2 assembly seats | Jaipur News
For the residents of Kudan village, nestled in the dusty landscape of Dhod tehsil in Sikar district, the upcoming assemblyelections are proving delectably hectic, unlike any before. They are busy shuttling between two neighbouring assembly constituencies-Lachhmangarh and Fatehpur, about 20 km apart-to support the candidates: Subhash Maharia and Nand Kishore Maharia.The two, official candidates of two different parties in two different seats, are not only their fellow villagers but also brothers of each other and both ex-MLAs.
BJP candidate Subhash Maharia is contesting against Congress candidate and PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra for the Lachhmangarh seat. Subhash’s younger brother, Nand Kishore, the official candidate of Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), is taking on Congress MLA Hakan Ali Khan in Fatehpur constituency.
The two brothers’ extended families, relatives, members of their community, and the common supporters-many of them living in Kudan-are juggling between the two constituencies, an activity that would continue and grow till the November 25 polls.
Nand Kishore’s son, Prateek Maharia, who is also the JJP’s youth wing president, is busy handling phone calls from both the constituencies. He can be heard mobilising youths for a campaign event in Fatehpur for his father and arranging transport for supporters to campaign for his uncle in Lachhmangarh.
“Our family is one and united. My father has a greater understanding of legal and technical issues. He had cleared the nomination form for my uncle (Subhash). I am very well connected with the youths in the entire region. So I have directed my team to provide all support to my uncle,” said Prateek.
Nand Kishore also keeps in constant touch over phone with his elder brother, takes stock of issues the latter faces, and guides him on a day-to-day basis. The family is clear that JJP being a BJP ally in Haryana, any exchange of help and support between the two parties in Lachhmangarh constituency will not be seen as anti-party activity. It helps that JJP has not fielded any candidate in Lachhmangarh.
Subhash’s campaign team, however, cannot extend support to his younger brother Nand Kishore in Fatehpur for obvious reasons. “BJP is contesting in Fatehpur. So extending support for the JJP candidate there can be seen as anti-party activity. We have to apply tact and follow the rules,” said a member of the Maharia family.
Contesting polls is not a new exercise for this family. Subhash Maharia has been elected MP from Sikar three times-in 1998, 1999 and 2003. Nawal Kishore was elected to the state assembly once, in 2013, as an independent candidate from Fatehpur.
At a tea shop along the national highway passing through Dhod, a group of middle-aged villagers discuss politics and talk about development of villages they saw during Subhash’s term as an MP. “Kudan village is least interested in who is contesting from where in Rajasthan. Our eyes are glued on Lachhmangarh and Fatehpur seats. We will be happy if both sons of our village win the upcoming polls and reach the assembly,” said Ram Avatar Singh, an elderly villager.
BJP candidate Subhash Maharia is contesting against Congress candidate and PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra for the Lachhmangarh seat. Subhash’s younger brother, Nand Kishore, the official candidate of Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), is taking on Congress MLA Hakan Ali Khan in Fatehpur constituency.
The two brothers’ extended families, relatives, members of their community, and the common supporters-many of them living in Kudan-are juggling between the two constituencies, an activity that would continue and grow till the November 25 polls.
Nand Kishore’s son, Prateek Maharia, who is also the JJP’s youth wing president, is busy handling phone calls from both the constituencies. He can be heard mobilising youths for a campaign event in Fatehpur for his father and arranging transport for supporters to campaign for his uncle in Lachhmangarh.
“Our family is one and united. My father has a greater understanding of legal and technical issues. He had cleared the nomination form for my uncle (Subhash). I am very well connected with the youths in the entire region. So I have directed my team to provide all support to my uncle,” said Prateek.
Nand Kishore also keeps in constant touch over phone with his elder brother, takes stock of issues the latter faces, and guides him on a day-to-day basis. The family is clear that JJP being a BJP ally in Haryana, any exchange of help and support between the two parties in Lachhmangarh constituency will not be seen as anti-party activity. It helps that JJP has not fielded any candidate in Lachhmangarh.
Subhash’s campaign team, however, cannot extend support to his younger brother Nand Kishore in Fatehpur for obvious reasons. “BJP is contesting in Fatehpur. So extending support for the JJP candidate there can be seen as anti-party activity. We have to apply tact and follow the rules,” said a member of the Maharia family.
Contesting polls is not a new exercise for this family. Subhash Maharia has been elected MP from Sikar three times-in 1998, 1999 and 2003. Nawal Kishore was elected to the state assembly once, in 2013, as an independent candidate from Fatehpur.
At a tea shop along the national highway passing through Dhod, a group of middle-aged villagers discuss politics and talk about development of villages they saw during Subhash’s term as an MP. “Kudan village is least interested in who is contesting from where in Rajasthan. Our eyes are glued on Lachhmangarh and Fatehpur seats. We will be happy if both sons of our village win the upcoming polls and reach the assembly,” said Ram Avatar Singh, an elderly villager.
