Gram panchayat elections in Kanpur have become interesting as family members of many senior politicians have plunged in the contest. Among prominent politicians who have fielded their family members in the gram panchayat elections include Rakesh Sachan,Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament from Fatehpur; Ram Prakash Kushwaha,Bahujan Samaj Party legislator from Ghatampur; Kamlesh Chandra Diwakar,BSP legislator from Bilhaur and BJP leader Dinesh Awasthi. Coming in defence of their family members,the public representatives have claimed the development is in the interest of people. Sachan said,As our family members have political background,they are well acquainted with the problems faced by the people. A two-time legislator from Kanpur,Sachan won the Lok Sabha election from Fatehpur in 2009. Sachans wife Seema is contesting the elections for the post of gram panchayat member from Kundauli seat and his mother Gyansheela is a gram panchayat candidate from Patara seat. He said: During the BSP rule,the villagers have remained ignorant. It is good if people with political background contest the gram panchayat elections. BSP legislator Diwakars four family members of have filed their nomination for the gram panchayat elections. His wife Nirmala has been elected unopposed as BDC member from Vishdhan and Urtha seats of Kakvan block. Diwakars brother Dinesh is contesting as gram panchayat member from Bangarmau seat of Unnao district. Whereas,his brother Arjun and sister-in-law have filed their nominations from Moradabad district. Diwakar said: It is better for the people if someone having a complete knowledge of the area,its problems and government schemes is elected to the post. Diwakar said his entire family is dedicated to the people. Even people realise the candidates with political background are more suited for gram panchayat elections, he added. BSP legislator Kushwaha has fielded his wife Reeta from Binuar seat. Kushwahas sister-in-law is contesting from Majhawan seat. Kushwaha said: I believe my wife can serve the people and play an important role in developing the rural areas. He said family members of public representatives should come forward to contest the gram panchayat elections. Meanwhile,Anuradha Awasthi,the wife of BJP leader Dinesh Awasthi,has been elected unopposed as BDC member from Bagdodhi seat under Kalyanpur Block.
