Shot at, unable to campaign, he still won

Binder Gujjar, an independent candidate from ward no. 12, emerged as the winner, despite various odds in the municipal elections.

Binder Gujjar, an independent candidate from ward no. 12, emerged as the winner, despite various odds in the municipal elections.

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He was shot at just a few days before filing his nomination papers. Gujjar, however, won by a margin of 2,275 votes. He polled a total 3,570 votes, while his opponent Dharambeer could manage only 1,295 votes.

While other candidates were busy campaigning, Gujjar was fighting for his life in hospital.

In his absence, his family and friends took up the responsibility of campaigning.

“My family and friends told residents that despite the attack, I will contesting the election. People prayed for me. It is only due to their blessings that I have survived and won the election, too. We did not promise them anything,” said Gujjar, who is still recovering. According to doctors, he will take three months to recover. “On May 12, he met voters for a few minutes,” said Manoj, his brother. Gujjar's friends claimed that it was not a wave of sympathy, but his work which lured voters.

“We did not ask people to vote for him. We did not make any promises. It was only his work and bond with the public, which attracted voters,” said Deepak Chutani, Gujjar's friend.