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Lok Sabha Elections 2019: In Siwan poll din, a dead silence among the living
In Siwan, Md Shahabuddin’s wife Hena Sahab of the RJD is locked in a keen contest with JD-U’s Kavita Singh, wife of another local strongman.
Sitting inside his house on Gaushala Road of Siwan along with his ailing wife and grandsons, Chandrakeshwar Prasad alias Chanda Babu, 80, looks stressed.
Though Mohammad Shahabuddin is lodged in TIhar jail, Chanda Babu, who has lost three young sons, all murdered, just wants the elections in Siwan to be over.
He does not talk of his preference or the mood in Siwan, once called the stronghold of Mhd Shahabuddin. “I have no interest, but I keep hearing people talk,” he says, when journalists approach him.
On consistent prodding, he has only this to say: “Had Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Siwan to address the people, the situation could have been different, as the present BJP MP lost his seat in the surprising seat adjustment within NDA. Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi does politics in the name of Md Shahabuddin, but never came to understand my plight, though he did talk to me once after my third son was killed.”
In Siwan, Md Shahabuddin’s wife Hena Sahab of the RJD is locked in a keen contest with JD-U’s Kavita Singh, wife of another local strongman. There are several other candidates in the fray and most of them wanted to use Chanda Babu’s poignant story to bolster their electoral prospects.
“Shiv Sena candidate and former IPS officer Sudhir Kumar wanted me to campaign with him. He also wanted to use my picture in banners and posters. There was also pressure from JD-U candidate to attend meetings with her. But I have said no to all of them. My wife and grandchildren want me to stay away from all this. They have seen it all over the years and I have nothing to share. I am just a story for all, nothing more,” Chanda Babu says, while his grandchildren play around him.
Also Read | Wives of two strongmen all set for Siwan face-off
A relative of Chanda Babu, who does not want to be quoted, says he had been asked well in advance to stay away from all kinds of politics, as people would try to use him in their own way. “Whoever wins or loses, what difference will it make to him? Let’s only pray Siwan does not slip into its dark old days again.”
Till a year ago, the enhanced security outside Chanda Babu’s house was a testimony to the threat perceptions he faced. Now, even that has been reduced, with just one guard standing outside his gate, but he hardly cares. He lives with his only remaining son, who is physically challenged.
“Even death does not make me afraid any more. I am living till I have to for them. How will it make a difference whoever wins here,” he says, pointing to his grandchildren.
Asha Ranjan, wife of slain journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, who was allegedly murdered by Shahabuddin’s henchmen, says NOTA is the only option for her in this election. “It is the election between the kin of two former dons. If the GA has fielded Sahab, wife of Sahabuddin, NDA is banking on Kavita, wife of another don. None is happy with the choices of both the alliances,” she says.
None of the family members of slain JNU leader Chandrasekhar, BJP leader Srikant Bharti or CPI-ML activist Munna Choudhary were willing to talk about Siwan election.
