AMID THE bitter war of words between the ruling BJP and the Opposition in election season, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has shown that not everything is about politics. On Sunday, Shekhawat circulated video clips of him celebrating Holi with Congress candidate Karan Singh Uchiyarda among others. Along with the video clip, in which he is seen hugging Uchiyarda, an accompanying message says, “This is the vibe of Jodhpur.” Sources close to Shekhawat said the minister always maintained warm ties with the Opposition leaders in his constituency despite the bitter political fight with the Congress. The Substitute SAMAJWADI PARTY president Akhilesh Yadav is not taking any chances with his party candidates. To avoid losing out on a seat because of technical issues while filing nomination papers, the party has drawn a strategy to field substitute candidates. Days after declaring former MP Harendra Singh Malik as the candidate from Muzaffarnagar, the SP has named his MLA son Pankaj Kumar Malik as the substitute candidate and also issued him the party symbol. Sources said the party made the move apprehending a possible “conspiracy” to reject Harendra's nomination during scrutiny of his papers. If that happens, Pankaj will contest. Similarly, the SP has issued the party symbol to MLA Nahid Hasad, days after declaring her sister Ikra Hasan as candidate from Kairana Lok Sabha seat.
