Where's the fear? Bhaiyya claims he's raja of hearts

KUNDA: The battle cry here is “Aaree sab pe bhaaree“.And, it belongs to Raghuraj Pratap Singh, better known as Raja Bhaiyya.

The 47-year-old, famously arrested on POTA charges in 2003 (later acquitted) and jailed again on criminal charges during Mayawati's government in 2010, has never lost an assembly election since he was first elected Independent MLA in 1993.

He is fighting as an Independent this time as well -the `aaree' (saw) his symbol. In 2012, Raja Bhaiyya retained this seat with the single-largest percentage margin for any candidate (53.8 per cent).

So, what's the secret of his success? Are people scared to vote for him or is it genuine affection?

“See for yourself,“ he says driving to an election meeting in Manikpur area, his hands folded in namaste to supporters.

“I've barely spent a penny on this election. People organise these meetings by themselves at their own expense,“ he claims.

How does he respond to those questioning his criminal record? “There's only one case pending and please check that charge-sheet,“ he responds. “You may not have the time to read it but the charges are so frivolous and on such petty issues that they are laughing able.“

What about the claims of there being crocodiles in his pond and allegations that his opponents are fed to them?
“I grew up swimming in that pond.

We run fisheries there. Where's the question of having crocodiles?“ Raja Bhaiyya's popularity can be gauged by his successive victory margins: the lowest being by 53,128 votes in 2007 when BSP swept the state.

He has won by 80,000vote margins thrice, including in 2012. In a state where each constituency has at least a dozen contenders, Kunda has no other independents in the fray . BJP has fielded Janki Sharan Pande while Pervez Akhtar Ansari is fighting for BSP .