AMETHI: “Jab do raniyan ladti hain to batao kiska phayda hota hai (When two queens fight, who stands to gain?)” asks Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav amid loud cheer from the crowd at an election rally here. Although the CM is campaigning for his candidate—rape-accused minister Gayatri Prajapati—without even mentioning his name once, his narrative is dominated by two queens, Garima Sinh and Ameeta Sinh. With two wives of Raja Sanjay Sinh in the fray, the pocket borough of the Gandhi family is set for battle royale.
Amethi’s original Rani Garima, fighting to take back her place of pride, is BJP’s candidate pitched diagonally against Congress’ Ameeta, the second Rani of the erstwhile ‘kingdom’. Taking the battle to the level of a triangular fight is tainted minister Prajapati. A Mulayam loyalist, he was booked on the charges of gang-rape and sexual harassment by the Uttar Pradesh police on the directives of the Supreme Court on February 17.
Ameeta, a two-time former MLA, draws her strength from husband Raja Sanjay Sinh while Garima counts on her three children.
Sanjay married Ameeta, a former badminton champion from Maharashtra, after a disputed divorce to Garima, who feels that it is a godsend opportunity for her to work for her people. “People of Amethi always wanted me to step out of the confines of the palace even after the discord with Raja Saheb as they wanted to see me taking a definite role,” she said.
The reigning rani, Ameeta’s candidature has created confusion in the SP-Congress alliance. She has jumped into the fray despite the seat going to sitting MLA and SP candidate Prajapati. SP was not prepared to upset its cadre and voters—especially the most backward castes among whom Prajapati enjoys a clout.
On the SP-Congress alliance being invisible in Amethi as both the candidates are facing off each other, Ameeta says she is convincing her voters that she is also with Akhilesh and that they should support her instead of tainted Prajapati. Whatever may be the fate of alliance in Amethi, it has certainly left the voters confused who stand divided. Akhilesh has already held a rally in support of Prajapati but he stopped short of taking his name and instead sought vote for the ‘cycle’ in Amethi.
Gauriganj is also gearing up for a four-cornered fight as both the Congress and SP have fielded their respective candidates along with BJP and BSP.