UP Elections: ‘Sweet’ 16th attempt for this Agra candidate

AGRA: As Vinod Kumar Singh arrived at Basai Khurd polling booth here at 8am to cast his ballot, the eyes of voters standing in a long queue turned towards him. Singh is contesting from Agra Cantt as an Independent candidate. He grabbed the public attention with his attire -- dressed like Krishna, holding a flute,which is his election symbol, and a peacock feather tucked in his black turban. More than Singh's dress code, it's his political career which is rivetting.

This is Singh's 16th election. In the past, he has contested six Lok Sabha, three Vidhan Sabha, a Vidhan Parishad and a Rajya Sabha election. That's not all. Singh, a lawyer, has been in the fray for Agra mayor and corporator and also has nominated his name for the presidentship.

"I have papers to prove these claims," says the indefatiagble contestant. He further claims his uncle Rajesh Kumar Singh has been an MLA and MP. Despite his indomitable `political' spirit, this lawyer has failed to win a single election. "It's (defeats) all because of corruption," he says.

Though most of the elections were fought as an Independent, Singh also entered the fray in the past on Congress ticket. The 'ekla chalo re' man says he is able to hold on to his ground against political heavyweights because of Krishna's blessings. He counts BJP as his arch competitor and is confident of win this time.

"But in case I fail to win, I will keep contesting till Krishna wants me to," he says. Singh, a scheduled caste, says he should be given a chance to serve the public. Meanwhile, polling at Basai started an hour late because of snag in EVM. Basai, about 2km from the Taj, is a semi-urban constituency.

It's time to bring back old parties, said Krishna, a voter, hinting at Congress' revival. Locals said the fight in the constituency is between SP and Congress. At Kachpura in Etmadpur seat, by 9am, only 12% votes had been polled. The voters said the contest is between SP and BSP. Etmadpur has 3.45 lakh voters, of whom Kachpura has some 4,000 voters. Kachpura, barely 1km from the monument of love, is a slum. Dirty drains, narrow bylanes, lack of drinking water facility, and erratic power supply are its main woes. Residents rue about a private power distribution company of sending faulty bills.