With Cong help 'Bhabhi' Dimple to contest LS by-polls

Dimple Yadav, wife of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, on Tuesday filed her nomination for the Lok Sabha by-election from Kannauj where the Congress has decided not to put any candidate.

Accompanied by her husband, 35-year-old Dimple, who suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Congress' Raj Babbar in the by-election for the Firozabad parliamentary seat in 2009, filed the papers before the returning officer.

The Congress has decided not to field any candidate against Dimple in Kannauj.Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh said, "We had not contested the seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha election and we are not contesting it now."

The Kannauj by-election, being held on June 24, has been necessitated following the resignation of Akhilesh Yadav after his election to the Legislative Council.

Dimple, who was in Kannauj to file her nomination, promised to work honestly for development of the constituency.

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Attacking the Bahujan Samaj Party government, Dimple said due to its "corrupt" practices the previous government had put the state on backward track and made the people of the country "ashamed".

"I want to seek blessing of the people who have earlier trusted netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) and Akhilesh. I am your beti (daughter), sister and bhabhi (sister-in-law), you should take election campaign in your hand and make me victorious," she said.

"Our party has no difference in its words and actions. We do what we say and development will remain our agenda," she said.

Earlier addressing a rally along with his wife, the chief minister said he would try to change the face of the state in the next five years.

"You all have seen the state budget. We have fulfilled promises made in the party manifesto in about three months time. We have a lot of time left and our government will change the face of the state in the remaining time. I am confident that people will give us another chance after five years," he said.

Terming Dimple's loss in the Firozabad by-poll as a "bad experience", Yadav said though all wanted her to win the elections, her first experience was not good.

"People of Kannauj used to tell me that had you fielded Dimple from here, she would have entered Parliament. I want you to make history this time by ensuring her victory with a huge margin as the country was keenly observing the by-elections," Yadav said.

The CM said his government would ensure all-round development of the constituency, which had always supported Samajwadi ideology.

Striking an emotional chord with locals, the chief minister said that people of Kannauj made history by making him the youngest MP, then youngest party president and now youngest chief minister. "I will not be able to come here as a model code of conduct is in force. If I come media will raise the matter. I urge all the people to support Dimple," he said.

Noting that the Lok Sabha polls were not far, Akhilesh said, "These by-elections are for a few months only. If the 2014 polls are held six months earlier, we don't have much time."

Alleging that the previous government did nothing on the power generation front, Yadav said that not a single plant was started in the previous regime. "We are working hard in this direction and trying to ensure better power scenario in the state. You people might be witnessing a change as you are getting more electricity. The medical college in your area will also be started soon," he said.

Alleging that some officers of previous regime were not serving the people, Yadav said that a lot of changes have to be made so that the common man gets relief from day-to-day problems.

 

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