Family matter

Vaishali Saraswat / TNN / Apr 11, 2007, 02:06 IST

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For Chandilas, politics has indeed become a family affair, especially after his son and daughter-in-law romped home in the MCD elections.

NEW DELHI: Politics runs deep in their veins. After parents, it was the turn of the second generation to take the plunge in electoral politics, successfully.
For the Chandilas, politics has indeed become a family affair, especially after Meghraj and Meenakshi, the son and daughter-in-law of sitting Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA from Vishnu Nagar Dayanand Chandila, romped home with comprehensive margins in the MCD elections this year.
However, the MLA's wife, Dhanwanti, who has been a two-time JMM councillor from Guru Nanak Nagar in 1997 and 2002, couldn't make it to the House this time from Vikas Puri (east). Dayanand's elder brother too lost from Major Bhupinder Singh Nagar in west Delhi. Observers say these two defeats have dented his support base.
Though shaken by his wife's defeat, the MLA, who aspires to become the next CM, is happy with his son and daughter-in-law's performance. "My daughter-in-law secured 9046 votes which is commendable for a newcomer. People have voted because we have worked for them for 10 years. Our work speaks for us," he said.

Nods son Meghraj: "We've provided basic facilities like sewage lines and roads in unauthorised colonies. We spent our own money and people know it." Contesting from ward 107, Vishnu Garden, Meghraj got 4189 votes of 17,871 and his wife secured 9046 in ward 108, Khyala, defeating a strong contender of her caste and thereby adding two seats to JMM's kitty.
For Dhanwanti, Dayanand promises a comeback. "Nobody save myself is responsible for her defeat. I was concentrating on Khyala as Meenakshi was new and another member of our caste was contesting against her. Moreover, discrepancies were reported from my wife's ward, where voters were bought with money and booze. I couldn't help my wife with her campaign. But I will go to the ward and ask people where had my wife failed them in terms of development that they voted her out," said an emotional Dayanand.

The patriarch is brash, doesn't mince words and doesn't count modesty as a virtue. "No one can question development in our area. We have dense-carpeted roads and beautiful parks. I simply tell people that if they feel we've worked, they vote for us else they can vote for someone else." But what makes him popular with people is that he is accessible, has developed the area and is a part of them.
Born in Khyala village, 54-year-old Chandila now has a plush multi-storey marble house even as he retains the older one in the same area. "He ensures that widows get pension at their doorstep. Water used to flood our house during rains, but he has solved the problem," said a resident Suman Arya.
And while the entire family had joined the political bandwagon reaching out to masses, within the walls of Chandila house, conservative rules are still followed. New councillor from Khyala did not speak in front of her father-in-law and kept purdha.
When asked how she'll manage the masses, she said: "I went out with my family's consent, interacted with people and was accepted by them. I'll fulfil my public duties as a councillor but family is also important."
vaishali.saraswat@timesgroup.com

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