UP Assembly election: 95-year-old files nomination, wants to end political corruption

Mangalore Today News Network

Uttar Pradesh, Jan 27, 2017 : At a time when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is bringing in the young generation to the front lines of governance, a 95-year-old woman has shocked everyone in the state by filing her candidature from the Kheragarh Assembly seat in Agra district.

 

Wheelchair-bound Jal Devi filed her nomination form at the Agra collectorate, stating confidently that she was contesting the elections not to seek limelight, but to win and work for the people of her constituency.

WON 13,000 VOTES IN DISTRICT POLLS

Widely popular as the founder of Laxman Sena in the Kheragarh area, Jal Devi had contested the Zila Panchayat elections last year and obtained 13,000 votes, shocking everyone. Her popularity among the locals could make a big dent in the vote tallies of all major political parties and her candidature has greatly perturbed leading candidates from the area as the votes lost to Jal Devi could be the votes that could make or break the election for them.

Her candidature has become the most problematic for the BSP candidate Bhagwan Singh Kushwah, the sitting two-term MLA from Kheragarh, who has to contend with the anti-incumbency factor against him.

JAL DEVI: ’WANT TO END CORRUPTION’

Talking to India Today, Jal Devi said that she has been performing social service for a large part of her life and is currently contesting the elections to end corruption in politics.

Apart from Bhagwan Singh Kushwah of BSP, Kusum Lata Dixit is contesting the election on an SP-Congress ticket, Mahesh Goyal on BJP ticket and Ramendra Singh Parmar on an RLD ticket. However, none of the candidates are at ease the entrance with Jal Devi, who will also be the oldest candidate in these elections, in the election as a wild card.