NOW THAT she has been nominated as a BJP candidate for Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, Anusuiya Uike might be wondering where she would have been today had she remained in the Congress where she cut her political teeth under her mentor Kamal Nath.
That her being a tribal and woman has helped her clinch the nomination against heavy odds is obvious. Some recent developments have also gone in her favour. Following expose showing Mandla MP Faggan Singh Kulaste striking deal under MPLAD scheme, the BJP desperately needed a tribal leader from Mahakoshal region.
The region is crucial for the party for two reasons — one, to combat the influence of Uma Bharti; second, to woo the tribals in the face of the burgeoning challenge of the Gondwana Ganatantra Party. However, how far Anusuiya fits in the scheme of things remains to be seen.
For now, she is bubbling with optimism and confidence. “I would focus on uplift of tribals with relentless work for their education and economic empowerment. They are honest, innocent and straightforward. They don’t nurture much ambition,” she told the Hindustan Times.
Ironically enough, for the plight of the tribals Anusuiya blames the Congress governments in the State of which she was also a part as deputy minister once.
{{/usCountry}}Ironically enough, for the plight of the tribals Anusuiya blames the Congress governments in the State of which she was also a part as deputy minister once.
{{/usCountry}}Born on October 4, 1957, in Chhindwara, Uike does not enjoy any political family background. She entered politics through student leadership and has taught economics as a lecturer at the Government Degree College, Chhindwara, between 1982 and 85. It was Congress leader Kamal Nath who got Assembly ticket to her.
Anusuiya won and became a deputy minister in Motilal Vora Government. In 1990 Assembly election, she was denied ticket as she had fallen out of Kamal Nath’s favour. Those were very difficult days for Anusuiya. Willy-nilly, she joined the BJP. But luck did not favour her as she lost Assembly polls in 1993 and 1998 on BJP ticket.
Her political comeback began with appointment as member of the National Commission for Women. She was there for two terms. Recently, Anusuiya was nominated chairperson of the State Scheduled Tribes Commission.