Journalism of Courage
The BJP sprang a surprise in UP Tuesday by throwing its weight behind an independent Rajya Sabha candidate who hails from Gujarat, runs an NGO engaged in social welfare projects and is settled in Mumbai with her husband.
Preeti Mahapatra, 37, a commerce graduate from Hinduja College, is married to Harihara Mahapatra, who runs construction and investment firms in Gujarat, Odisha and Maharashtra. He accompanied her as she filed her papers in the last one hour. Ten BJP MLAs including legislature party leader Suresh Khanna signed the first set of papers and six more including state vice-president Ashutosh Tandon signed the second set. Peace Party president and MLA Dr Ayub too had accompanied Preeti but, in a dramatic turn of events, withdrew his support the moment he realised the BJP was behind her.
Preeti’s NGO, Krishnaleela Foundation, is engaged in social work in tribal and backward areas and built 12,840 toilets in Navsari last year, said her political adviser, Naresh Chaudhary. “The PM has praised the NGO’s work in Mann ki Baat,” Chaudhary said.
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In her Facebook albums are pictures of Preeti with the Prime Minister. Preeti denied any connection with the BJP, however. “I want a Rajya Sabha membership from UP because this state is backward in development and needs a lot of work done. The Prime Minister too is an MP from here… I too will work for cleanliness and development,” she said. She said the BJP MLAs were supporting her because they were impressed with her vision for development.
The BJP will have only seven votes to spare after electing official candidate Shiv Pratap Shukla, who too filed his papers.
