The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : CANDIDATE WATCH: Sushila Laxman, BJP.

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Wednesday, May 05, 2004

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National - Elections 2004

CANDIDATE WATCH: Sushila Laxman, BJP.

So what if she mistakes "chattis kaum" (36 communities), often referred to in Rajasthan politics, for "chappan kaum" (56 communities) in her public speeches and has a bewildered look whenever she meets mediapersons? Sushila Laxman, wife of the former Bharatiya Janata Party president, Bangaru Laxman, is here to stay. Win or lose, Ms. Laxman, pitted against the veteran Congressman, Buta Singh, in Jalore, promises to be with the people of the area in the future too.

She may be a novice in politics but Ms. Laxman, who till a month ago taught Hindi in the Bansilalpet Government High School in Secunderabad, is a double MA and has no difficulty communicating with the people in one of Rajasthan's most backward areas.

One may be tempted to say that she is a proxy of Mr. Laxman, who had to leave his party post after the Tehelka exposé, but Ms. Laxman is campaigning on her own.

"I am not contesting at his (Mr.Laxman's) behest. It is the party's order," she says, busy getting ready for the day's campaign in a hotel room in Jalore town. The room reminds one of a "barati" (marriage party) getting ready for the ceremony with relatives and friends milling around.

"It was entirely a party decision to field Sushila. The party units of Jalore and Sirohi districts which had put forth her name. On my part I did not demand a nomination for myself as well," says Mr. Laxman.

Keeping Ms. Laxman company in Jalore, which borders Gujarat, is her daughter Shruti and two sons-in-law, Srinivas Rao and Suresh.

The couple have three daughters and one son, Sai Prasad, who is away as he is appearing for a training programme.

Ms. Laxman is aware that she is taking on a formidable foe in Mr. Buta Singh, who has been here for the past 20 years. However, she can draw comfort from the fact that Mr. Laxman in 1999, managed to bring down Mr. Singh's winning margin to just 35,924 votes.

"That was his first election and he had got only 14 days to campaign," says Ms.Laxman, pointing out that she too was in the constituency then. "Buta Singh has money which he has been always making use of in his campaigns. But we are winning the hearts of the people," she says.

She brushes aside a suggestion that it would have been better had Mr.Laxman been fielded by the BJP in here place. "It makes no difference. I am winning. It is a new responsibility for me," she says, interrupting Shruti who has just chipped in. "Hindi mein baat karo (speak in Hindi)," she admonishes her. "I tell the people that I am a housewife. I will look after the constituency as I look after my family. I know the problems of this place. The whole of Jalore is telling me that the people here are angry with Buta Singh," she says.

Does the Tehelka controversy hurt? "Tehelka has no impact. The people here talk about getting more educational facilities, better healthcare and water. Dalits are really backward here and they have to be brought to the mainstream."

There seems to no outsider factor here as Mr.Singh, though now well established in the area, could himself be termed an outsider in a strict sense. "They don't consider us as outsiders. Whoever comes here once stays back. The people are so affectionate," says Ms. Laxman.

Sunny Sebastian

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