Rampur is turning into a Bollywood tearjerker with ample drama, emotion, action and even a bit of comedy.
Former Uttar Pradesh Minister M. Azam Khan, who is the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party candidate has revived his now legendary battle with actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada who is the BJP candidate in Rampur.
Addressing an election rally in his constituency, Khan said, "I did not open dance schools, I opened proper schools and universities." The remark was obviously directed at Jaya Prada who is known for her dancing skills as an actor.
In another meeting, Jaya Prada breaks into tears and says: "I do not want to cry now. I want to laugh and I want peace. I have come here to seek your blessings."
Her producer brother Raja Babu, who is also campaigning for the actor, says in yet another meeting: "Meri behen ne Rampur ko chamka diya, aur woh rakshas ne Jaya ji ko bhaga diya (My sister made Rampur shine but that demon drove her out)". The brother breaks into sobs to earn public sympathy.
BJP workers, as if on the cue, start shouting 'Jaya ji tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hain".
The battle between Azam Khan and Jaya Prada has acquired legendary proportions.
It was 15 years ago that Azam Khan had brought Jaya Prada to Rampur to challenge the political supremacy of the family of Begum Noor Bano, a Congress leader.
Jaya Prada contested and defeated Bano in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. In the next five years, her relations with Azam Khan soured and she moved to the Amar Singh camp.
In 2009 general elections, Azam Khan was shown the door from SP on the issue of his deteriorating relationship with Jaya Prada who won the election.
By 2014, both Amar Singh and Jaya Prada had quit the SP and both lost the elections while Azam Khan returned to the Samajwadi fold.
In 2019, Khan is cautious not to take the name of Jaya Prada but his statements, laced with sarcasm, make it obvious and the people lap up his speeches.
One of his statement goes thus, "Buddhe chuhon ki mooch nikal jaye to wo sheher ka kaptaan nahin ho jata" and then he says "Jako rakhe saiyan maar sake na koi."
Rampur, meanwhile, is enjoying this theatre of the absurd while it plays out.
The constituency goes to polls on April 23 in the third phase.
--IANS
amita/in
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