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Lok Sabha elections 2019: Mulayam’s ‘last election’ may see a show of loyalty
Yadav started his career from Mainpuri as a teacher. He switched to politics and went on to become chief minister thrice and Union defence minister in 1996. The Congress has not fielded a candidate against Yadav while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Prem Singh Shakya.
Brisk voting took place on Tuesday in Mainpuri, the constituency of Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav, where the veteran politician says he is contesting his last election. Yadav has been elected from Mainpuri four times to the Lok Sabha in the past — in 1996, 2004, 2009 and 2014.
Yadav started his career from Mainpuri as a teacher. He switched to politics and went on to become chief minister thrice and Union defence minister in 1996. The Congress has not fielded a candidate against Yadav while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Prem Singh Shakya. The slogan of his supporters in Mainpuri is “Jiska jalwa kayam hai, uska naam Mulayam hai [one who continues to call the shots is Mulayam Singh Yadav]”.
According to Yadav’s supporters, the veteran leader’s victory in Manipur is a forgone conclusion and the only thing to be decided is his victory margin.
Once known as “dhaan ka katora [rice bowl]” for the large crop of sela (thick) rice it grows, Mainpuri has supplied the staple to Bihar and even to Bangladesh and Pakistan in the past. The Ghiror area of Mainpuri was known as the largest “mandi [agricultural market]” for garlic in Asia Farmers in the region complain that stray animals and van gai (jungle cows) have become a menace to their crops, forcing them to keep vigil on their farms in the night. A demand for a cancer hospital is still pending in the constituency, where an eponymous brand of tobacco is popular.
Despite his health issues, Yadav shared the stage with foe-turned-friend, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati in a historic rally last week.
