E-Paper
Heat and dust: Testing time for a royal
BJP nominee from Kheda 'Maharani' Shubhanginidevi Gaekwad is out of place in the heat and dust of this Gujarat constituency.
BJP nominee from Kheda 'Maharani' Shubhanginidevi Gaekwad is out of place in the heat and dust of this Gujarat constituency. Perhaps more accustomed to the air-conditioned comfort of modern life, the 'maharani' cannot bear the scorching heat for too long, and even suffered a heat-stroke while campaigning.
The heat is probably also responsible for keeping the crowds away.
Rolling into the Punaj village square in the comfort of her air-conditioned Mahindra Scorpio on Tuesday afternoon, the 'maharani' had to exit as soon as she entered because the heat seemed to have driven the villagers into their homes. Her convoy promptly headed towards Punjera, the next village on her itinerary. She has taken on two-time Congress MP Dinsha Patel in Kheda.
Dapper in a Maheshwari saree, Shubhanginidevi and a handful of party workers, led by Matar MLA Rakeshbhai Rao, were welcomed into the local Ram temple. Rao introduced the 'maharani' to 30-odd men and about five women, their puckered faces inscrutable. Introductions over, Shubhanginidevi lost no time in asking for "your votes that will give me victory". With no positive response, the maharani and her attendant beat another hasty retreat.
"She cannot take this heat for long," said a party activist. It seems she suffered a heat-stroke while campaigning in Mehamdavad on Monday.
Her next stop was Baroda village. Again, Shubhanginidevi's speech was over in no time. She was invited for tea in the best house around — brick-built, plastered, with a power connection but no supply.
As the 'maharani' exchanged concerns with the wives of wealthy landlords and Rajputs in a large hall, 77-year-old Laxmiben stood nearby and railed away at the ‘sarkar’. "My hut has remained as it was when I was born," she said. Her neighbours Saritaben and Gomtiben harvest crops tilled and owned by landlords. For 10 hours of labour, they earn Rs 40. Saritaben asks plaintively: "Who will listen to us?"
Is anyone listening?
