Spouse trouble in Uttaranchal polls

Candidates in the Uttaranchal assembly polls are facing unsavoury opposition from an unexpected quarter -- their spouses.

Madhu Chauhan, an independent candidate from Chakrata, is not getting any support from her husband and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Munna Singh Chauhan, a three-time legislator from the constituency.

Madhu is fighting a lonely battle against Pritam Singh, a powerful cabinet minister from Chakrata. Chauhan himself is contesting from the nearby Vikasnagar seat as BJP candidate. Madhu's difficulties were compounded after Chauhan gave an undertaking to BJP that he will not campaign for his wife from Chakrata, where the party's official nominee is Pratap Singh.

But observers in Dehradun said BJP has been relegated to third position in Chakrata with the entry of Madhu in the battle of ballots.

Stung by Chauhan's move to field his wife, BJP tried to corner him by fielding Hindu Jagran Manch leader Kuldip Kumar as a rebel candidate from Vikasnagar. This put Chauhan in a defensive mode. He, in turn, immediately gave an undertaking to BJP that he will not influence the poll prospects of his wife.

Madhu is not the only woman who is not getting support of her husband in the battle of ballots.

In the Ramnagar constituency in Kumaon region, both Kishori Lal (Bahujan Samaj Party) and his wife Rama Devi (Independent) are contesting elections and both have refused to help each other.

Similarly, BSP legislator from Gadarpur, Premanand Mahajan is pitted against wife Dipti who is contesting as an Independent candidate.

In another interesting case, former railway minister Satpal Maharaj has found his electioneering restricted to Bironkhal because his wife Amrita is trying her luck in this seat. Maharaj is now being pressurised by the high command to lend support to other Congress candidates at least in the nearby constituencies.