ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

About wives, in-laws, sons...

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Rajendra Singh's son-in-law Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's son-in-law Narpat Singh Rajvi, former chief minister Jagannath Pahadiya's wife Shanti Pahadiya and the wives of two former Union ministers are among those contesting the Rajasthan assembly election.

Minister of State for Planning Rajpal Singh Shekhawat is seeking re-election for the third time on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket in the pink city's Bani Park constituency, while sitting BJP member Narpat Singh Rajvi is making a bid to re-enter the state assembly from Chittorgarh for his second term.

Shanti Pahadia has been fielded by the Congress for the Weir (SC) seat in Bharatpur district -- the seat she held in 1980.

Former Union minister Rajesh Pilot's wife Rama is trying her luck from Hindoli in Bundi district, which she held in 1990. She lost the 1993 election from Bansur in Alwar district.

Another former Union minister Abrar Ahmed's wife, Yasmin Abrar is the Congress nominee for the Sawai Madhopur constituency where she will take on Minister of State for Tourism Narendra Kanwar.

In the last election, Kanwar had defeated Abrar in the same constituency.

In other interesting encounters, two sons and a daughter-in-law of former legislator Sohan Lal Bansiwal are trying their luck. While sitting BJP legislator Ziya Lal Bansiwal is to face his own brother Nand Lal Bansiwal (rebel Congress) and others to retain his Dausa (SC) seat, sister-in-law Prem Devi Bansiwal is contesting the Dudu (SC) seat of Jaipur district on a BJP ticket.

Similarly, in the Deeg assembly seat, the contest is between sitting independent Arun Singh and cousin and former MP Krishnendra Kaur, a BJP nominee. Their cousin brother and the erstwhile yuvraj of Bharatpur, Vishwendra Singh, has been fielded by the BJP from the Kumher assembly.

State home minister Kailash Meghwal is seeking re-election from the Shahpura assembly seat in Bhilwara district while sister Dr Kusum Meghwal is in the fray as a Republican Party of India nominee from Mavli assembly constituency in the neighbouring district of Udaipur.

Likewise, Bahujan Samaj party state chief and former minister Jagat Singh Dayma is pitted against, among others, his estranged wife Urvarshi Dayma (Ind) for the Bansur assembly seat in Alwar district.

Former Union minister Ram Niwas Mirdha's son Harendra Mirdha has been re-fielded by the Congress in the Nagaur constituency for his second term.

Former minister and noted Kisan leader Kumbha Ram Arya's daughter-in-law Suchitra has been fielded by the Congress for the Nohar seat.

Another former minister, Brij Sundar Sharma's daughter-in-law Mamta Sharma (Congress) is contesting the Bundi seat that has been held by her father-in-law for four terms.

Former yuvarani of Alwar and former MP Mahendra Kumari's son Jitendra Singh is contesting the Alwar seat as a Congress nominee, and former Union minister Sheesh Ram Ola's son Brijendra Ola is seeking election from Jhunjhunu on a Congress ticket.

Former Rajasthan assembly speaker and sitting Congress legislator Poonam Chand Vishnoi's daughter Vijaya Laxmi Vishnoi has been fielded by the Congress from the Suratgarh assembly seat.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report