Shoe baron & royal: Voters will decide their fortune

AGRA: In one corner of this district's political horizon is regal grandeur in its twilight years. On the other, a sunrise story from the world of business that's dazzled popular European shoemakers.

Pakshalika Singh, wife of Bah MLA Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh, from the erstwhile royal family of Bhadawar, and Nazir Ahmed, shoe baron who dominates Agra's leather industry, his business worth crores spread across continents, represent an interesting contrast.

Pakshalika, 56, BJP nominee from Bah, joined BJP earlier this month along with her husband, contesting on a BJP ticket from Kheragarh.Pakshalika's declared an armoury in her affidavit -a rifle (.22 calibre), two pistols (.30 calibre), two double-barreled guns (12 bore), 30 carbines, 34 swords, eight knives and 31 daggers. “Most of these belong to our ancestors.These have historical and sentimental value,“ she says, sitting in her palace office.Dignified in a peacock-green sari paired with a crimson shawl, Singh has declared assets worth Rs 38.7 crore.

Nazir Ahmed, 59, has a different persona. He's invariably turned out in white sports shoes, blue jeans and sleeveless jackets. Though he has a fleet of Audis, BMWs, Mustangs and Mercs, and in his affidavit says he has 20 such big cars, he mostly uses his Innova.“When you are into exports, you must pamper your clients, especially the Europeans, which is where my highend cars come into play ,“ says Ahmed, a graduate of Kolkata's St Xavier's College.

He started his business with a modest sum at the age of 24 and rose to become the undisputed mogul of Agra's leather trade. He has declared Rs 200 crore assets, which, industry sources say , is an `honest account'. According to trade rivals, Ahmed has left competition behind because of his massive exports to the EU.

The former princess and the shoe baron both find the political pitch slippery. Pakshalika, who fought twice earlier and lost, has picked safe seat Bah, which her husband represented four times and his father another four times.

Ahmed too lost the last assembly polls. This time, he's SP-Congress's nominee from Agra South. and faces a tough fight from BJP and BSP .