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Journalism of Courage
The election verdict in UP has clearly been a vote for change with the people giving the mandate to as many as 40 first-timers while voting out 35 sitting MPs.
The 40 first-timers include a number of housewives,a former textile exporter who changed track to work in the social sector and even a commando in-charge of the late PM Rajiv Gandhis security.
Kamal Kishore from Bahraich is popularly known as Commando after his designation in the team guarding Rajiv Gandhi,on which he served for seven years. According to sources,people voted for him because of his proximity to the Gandhi family and their belief that he would be in a position to convey their grievances to the Government. “Commando,ka jeetna kafi logon ke liye surprise tha aur ab to usko ministry dene ki baaten bhi chal rahin hai,” said a senior Congress leader. (Commandos victory surprised many people and now there is even talk of a ministerial berth for him). He added that this was because he was among the two Dalits who fought on a Congress ticket.
Congresss Annu Tandon,the winner from Unnao,who gave up a textile export business to found a charitable trust won with a record margin of over 3 lakh votes.
Among the housewives who won are Sarika Singh,an RLD candidate from Hathras. Seema Upadhyay,the wife of UPs Power Minister won in Fatehpur Sikri while Raj Kumari Singh Chauhan,the wife of another UP minister,won from Aligarh. Kaiser Jahan,the wife of a BSP MLA won from Sitapur.
