Fury of a bahu scorned

Though the 46-year-old Roopa has been brought up on a steady diet of Congress ideology for over three decades, she speaks with ease on her new-found love for the BJP.

Roopa is focussed on her priorities 8212; the only one for the moment is to humble her father-in-law who sent her packing from his house after the death of her husband Dilip. 8216;8216;I was like a sapling growing under the shade of a banyan tree. Even if the sapling grows it will always remain in the shade. Since my father-in-law is a heavyweight in the Congress, he will never let me have any political ambitions. I left to let my dreams come true.8217;8217;

Roopa8217;s husband was an MLA. Her father Pratapsinh Chalukya and brother Shivajirao are sugar barons of the region. In fact, her brother commands a formidable vote bank in the Umerga belt of Latur. Now, the once faithful Congressmen, the Chalukyas have followed their kin to the BJP.

Interestingly, Sonia8217;s roadshow passed through the belt. 8216;8216;I may be a novice in politics but I got Sonia8217;s roadshow to pass through my belt. Now, am I a weak candidate?8217;8217; she asks. She will have to wait for the answer.