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Jyotiraditya for MP but Atal preferred for PM in Guna
The magic of the Scindias is still prevalent as Jyotiraditya Scindia is the favourite for the post of MP but Vajpayee is preferred for PM.
The magic of the Scindia family is again working in the Guna Lok Sabha constituency in central Madhya Pradesh.
Parliamentary elections are due in the constituency on Monday. Of the state's 29 constituencies, this is one the BJP is sure of its defeat.
"Guna is very tough for us," Arvind Singh Bhadauria, a senior BJP leader, admitted on Sunday.
The BJP perhaps knows well that nothing will work against the charisma of the young Jyotiraditya Scindia, son of the late Madhavrao Scindia, who is seeking reelection from the constituency on the Congress party ticket.
Time and again, people of Guna have sent members of the Gwalior dynasty to the Parliament.
It hardly mattered to the voters whether the member belonged to the Congress or BJP.
Vijayraje Scindia, the mother of Madhavrao, started her political career from this very constituency in 1957. She won by a margin of over 60,000 votes.
Since then Guna has been a bastion of the Scindias. Vijayraje won from Guna in 1967, 1989, 1991, 1996 and 1998 as well.
Like his mother, Madhavrao also made his political debut from the constituency in 1971. He re-contested in 1977 and won comfortably. He returned to Guna in 1999 and was victorious.
In a by-election held after his death in 2000, his son Jyotiraditya was elected.
Parties and issues take a backseat when a member of the Scindia family contests from Guna.
"It has become a tradition for the people of Guna to vote for the Scindias. So people will vote for Jyotiraditya. Secondly, he has got several developmental works done in the constituency," said Amarnath Kshtriya, a native of Guna.
But there is some relief for the BJP in Guna too.
Ask Kshtriya about his choice of prime minister and he replies promptly: "Atal Bihari Vajpayee."
Voters in Guna say they do not have to face problems like bad roads, power shortage or water scarcity and owe it to Maharajaji (King), as Jyotiraditya is popularly known in the constituency.
"Jyotiraditya keeps visiting the constituency frequently and tries his best to solve the problems of the people," said Santosh Sharma, a shopkeeper in Mangwar, close to Guna city.
"For this reason, I will vote for Jyotiraditya. Secondly, for years we have been voting for the family," he added.
But like Kshtriya, he also feels that Vajpayee is the only choice for the post of prime minister.
"There is no alternative to Vajpayee. Not even (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi."
