Queen Bees set off buzz in UP

It was her social work that tilted the balance in her favour.

Founder and Chairperson of Hriday Narain Dhawan Charitable Trust,Tandon has initiated several development projects in the district to provide aid to children,widows and physically-challenged people.

With the aim to upgrade the living standards of people,the trust has launched projects like Chakshu (for Cataract patients),Lakshmi (cleanliness drive in Mann Kheda Village),Padhe Chalo Padhe Chalo (Education awareness and distribution of books and stationery) and Yasodha Vatika (stressing on upbringing and education of children).

Tandon’s husband Sandeep,a former Indian Revenue Service officer,is currently a consultant with Reliance Industries Limited. Tandon herself was in the textile export business but dedication for social work prompted her to shut down the business.  

A resident of Sarvan village of Unnao,Akhilesh Das Awasthi says,“Every child of this village knows Annu Tandon.” Recalling a massive fire which broke out in the village a few years ago,he said: “No politician came forward to help us out. It is only Tandon who visited the village and provided us the required support.”

According to Awasthi,though the election results have come as a surprise to the outsiders,Unnao residents were sure about her landslide victory.

Hasanganj resident Sarita Devi opines that the female votes have mostly gone to the Congress. “Besides Tandon,no politician ever cared to turn up in my village to help the people,” said Devi.

She said the sewing machines distributed by Tandon in the village have become a source of living for many families. Expressing similar views,Bangarmau resident Ram Vilas Kureel said Tandon had increased the competition at Unnao.

He pointed out that in 2004 Lok Sabha elections,BSP got 1.78 lakh votes and SP 1.60 lakh votes. “In 2009,BSP received 1.73 lakh votes and SP got 1.45 lakh votes,” he said.

“But this time,Tandon’s charisma and hard work prompted the voters to go in her favour .”

Tandon had earlier told The Indian Express: “I have never served the people of Unnao with the intention of contesting the elections. But now it seems that I require a bigger platform to widen the area of my work.” For the massive victory at Unnao,Congress district president Veer Pratap Singh gave the credit to the hard work of Tandon and the policies of the UPA government. “It has been a double delight for Congress at Unnao. People have appreciated Tandon’s dedication and the projects initiated by the UPA government,” he added.  

BSP candidate Arun Shankar Shukla said,“I accept the verdict.” District president of the BJP,Radhey Shyam Rawat,said: “It is Tandon’s victory and not a victory of Congress. She used money power to woo the voters.” Born and brought up in Unnao,Tandon joined Congress in 2006 and was soon appointed the chairperson of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee’s Relief and Rehabilitation Unit.