Right from the cool comforts of their palatial houses, the royalty is out in the heat and dust to confront their rivals in the battle of hustings in Uttar Pradesh. Some of their family members have already faced the electorate and tried their skills in politics and proved their mettle. Some are already sitting members of Parliament while others members of the Union Ministry. Obviously the Gen next is out to try their hand.
Several members from the royal family have made their electoral choices and are going all out to display their talents. For them it is a contest between those who have a tradition of ruling to the new ambitious netas. Just imagine these “royals” are talking of the sufferings of the common man and promising to solve their problems when they have never seen such conditions. Not very surprising when a commoner scoffed as he questioned, “Are they ware of the intensity of povertyIJ” Maybe not but there are promises galore as they readily extend a helping hand and wipe the tears of the poor even if it be for their own vested interests.
Brushing aside the scorching summer sun, the royalty in fray are facing the odds of the weather as they travel in their SUVs not to miss their Raybans and Verito’s. All the same these royal candidates are well equipped with their laptops and follow their IT campaigns with the latest updates on twitter,WhatsApp and Facebook.
Just as campaigning is picking up as the poll dates are drawing near the contest is getting tough.”It is not as easy as it ones used to be. The mere sight of a royal family member would make the voters go down on their knees but not anymore. The young generations are no longer in awe of the royalty and treat them like any other candidate,” says Raghuvir Shukla, a businessman in Pratapgarh.
Kunwar RPN Singh belongs to the royal family in Kushinagar and will be seeking a second term in the lok Sabha. He was a legislator in UP form 1996 to 2009. Rajkumari Ratna Singh, of the erstwhile Kalakankar Estate in Pratapgarh, is the Congress candidate from here. She has won the seat in 1996, 1998 and 2009. “I am not asking for votes on my background. People know I have done work here and I am seeking their support because of what I have done,” she says confidently.
Rani Ameeta Singh has the won the Amethi seats in 2002 and 2007 and is now contesting the Sultanpur lok Sabha seat opposite BJP MP Varun Gandhi. “I have worked in this region for years now and I am familiar with the local people. I am always available to the local people and that is my biggest strength,” she says with her head demurely covered with the pallu.
Begum Noor Banu from the royal family of Rampur, has shifted her constituency to Moradabad and is sweating it out in the sweltering heat. She is the Congress candidate here. “Our family has always worked for the people and I am simply continuing the tradition,” she says softly. Her son, Nawab Kazim Ali Khan, a three time MlA, is contesting the Rampur seat on a Congress ticket. This is his first lok Sabha election but he is now intimidated.