Lok Sabha polls 2014: Hema Malini fighting her erstwhile supporters in Mathura

MATHURA: The adage that there are no permanent friends or foes in the politics has become true in the Mathura Lok Sabha constituency, where the erstwhile friends are now contesting against each other.

In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, actress-tuned politician Hema Malini had canvassed for BJP-supported RLD candidate Jayant Chaudhary but this time they are fighting against each other.

While Hema Malini is a BJP nominee, Chaudhary is contesting as RLD candidate with Congress alliance.

Former Uttar Pradesh minister Ravi Kant Garg recalls how in 2009 Lok Sabha elections Hema Malini has even addressed a public meeting in support of Chaudhary. Chaudhary had then trounced BSP candidate Shyam Sundar Sharma by 1,69,613 votes.

"Hema Malini had also addressed an election meeting in Sonkh in favour of Shyam Aheria, a BJP candidate in 2002 assembly elections. Aheria had won the election," Garg said.

In 2007 Hema Malini canvassed in favour of Murari Agrawal, BJP candidate for Mathura Assembly constituency.

"She not only addressed public meetings in support of Agrawal but had also participated in road shows in his favour," Garg said.

Incidentally, all the candidates she has canvassed for are now in different political parties.

Aheria has joined Samajvadi Party while Agrawal is now supporting RLD candidate Jayant Chaudhary.

SP candidate Chandan Singh for whom Hema never canvassed, has also switched sides.

While earlier he was MLA from Chhatta Assembly seat (1980) as JNP candidate, he joined BJP after temple agitation movement. In 2012 when Akhilesh government was formed, he again switched sides to join SP.

A four-cornered contest (Hema Malini-BJP, Jayant Chaudhary-RLD, Chandan Singh-SP and Yogesh Dwivedi-BSP) is expected for Mathura Lok Sabha constituency that would go to polls tomorrow.