'This is the first election here in many years'

India Politics
'This is the first election here in many years'
By Sharat Pradhan, IANS, Apr 27, 2007 - 5:38:38 PM

Kunda -, April 27 - 'This is going to be the first election in many years in this constituency!' This is the common refrain of a large chunk of voters in this constituency that figures among the badlands of Uttar Pradesh.

Be it the young or old, men or women, everyone is all praise for the Election Commission for paving the way to make a genuine election happen Saturday when Kunda goes to poll as a part of the fifth leg of assembly elections in the state.

'This is the first time in 15 years that I am looking forward to exercising my franchise,' said S.K. Misra, a farmer in Manikpur.

He disclosed that in the past three elections, 'I remember being told at the polling station 'Your vote has already been cast, what are you doing here?''

According to him and many others, there were tens of thousands who would return home disappointed and helpless in every election because any complaint about bogus voting would mean an invitation to rebuke, retaliation, physical assault and even death.

But a discernable change is visible on the streets and fields of this sprawling rural constituency that has a long feudal history of hair-raising episodes.

Unlike in the past when any questions about the feudal lord Raghuraj Pratap Singh - better known as Raja Bhaiya - would render people speechless, locals are now speaking up.

'All these years the raja's goons would not let ordinary people vote and he would naturally win with a thumping majority. Even the polling percentage used to be often higher than in constituencies of political giants like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi or even Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

'But no one could dare to raise a finger, and dutifully everyone looked the other way as Raja Bhaiya rode on to power poll after poll,' pointed out Ashwini Shukla, another farmer.

'Thanks to the Election Commission, a genuine election has become possible', quipped Arif Khan, a self-employed young man in Kunda - the nerve centre of the Raja's unquestioned might and 140 km from Lucknow, the state capital.

Ironically, the first ever challenge to the Raja - who has been ruling the roost from here ever since he entered active politics about 11 years ago - has come from the party of Dalits, whom the feudal lords always treated like dirt.

Clearly, it is the Bahujan Samaj Party - that has dared to give the Raja a run for his money.

'The Raja's days are over. We are going to overthrow him,' asserted S.P. Misra, the Brahmin candidate fielded by BSP chief Mayawati, who was responsible for sending not only Raja Bhaiya but also his more feudal and aged father to prison during her last stint as chief minister four years ago.

What seems to be giving more sleepless nights to Raja is the rebel from within his own rank and file - Thakur Prakash Singh, who after serving his feudal lord for a decade and a half is now throwing a challenge to him as a nominee of Apna Dal, a regional outfit supported not only by the Bharatiya Janata Party - but also endowed with matching muscle power.

Within days of assuming office in August 2003, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav not only withdrew the charges of terrorism slapped against Raja Bhaiya, but also appointed him his food minister.

Evidently, the raja has seen the writing on the wall - a repeat of history - if Mayawati rides on to power again.

No more is he confining himself only to a few larger pockets of the constituency and letting his henchmen go about issuing diktats elsewhere - a sign of the changing times here.

'This is the first time that he has come seeking votes. In the past we would have only members of his much dreaded 'Raja Bhaiya Youth Brigade' come and tell people either 'not to bother' about their votes or to tell them 'where to cast their ballot',' said one resident who did not wish to be identified.

Yet another indication of some semblance of democracy in this area is the existence of election offices of prominent political parties - something that was invisible in the past.

'Earlier setting up a rival office was unthinkable,' said subject-turned-foe Thakur Prakash Singh, who faces as many as 48 criminal cases in court.

'Sure enough if people had their way on Friday, it would be the dawn of a new era in Kunda,' quipped Ram Manohar, a young graduate.

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