In Jyotiraditya’s absence, Maharani holds the forte in Guna

BHOPAL: Braving the scorching sun, the ‘Maharani’ of Gwalior

Priyadarshini Raje Scindia

is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the victory of her husband Jyotiraditya Scindia in Guna Lok Sabha seat.

A seasoned campaigner, Priyadarshini Raje Scindia seems to have mastered the art of interacting with people and wooing voters. With Jyotiraditya busy supervising election in Uttar Pradesh as general secretary incharge of UP west, Priyadarshini is holding Scindia’s forte in Guna.

Priyadarshini, who figured in the Verve's ‘Best dressed - 2008’ hall of fame list as also in Femina’s ‘India's 50 most beautiful women" list in 2012, Priyadarshini can be seen mingling with villagers in the dusty countryside of Shivpuri, Guna and Ashoknagar. Often driving with her chauffer sitting next to her, she is surrounded by the village women whenever she visits small hamlets. Priyadarshini often sits on the ground along with the women to discuss issues related to their area.

She urges voters to vote again for ‘Maharaj’, as he is hardworking and easily accessible. Moving on from one village to another, she sips water from tubewells in the fields besides tasting freshly plucked green mangoes and tomatoes. Driving down on her SUV, she can be seen caressing a cow by the roadside.

Though she seems to have mastered the tricks of the trade to woo voters, she is not keen on joining politics. She said, “There is a wrong notion that I am not comfortable with the searing heat in the area. After all, I have to live here and I am used to it.”

But the BJP candidate KP Singh, who was earlier close to Scindia, is not impressed with Priyadarshini’s claim. He said that people want to know why she comes out only during elections. “My wife also campaigns for me, but she works throughout the year”, he said.

Priyadarshini hits back, “I am neither a celebrity nor a politician like BJP leaders who call people first and then meet them. It seems BJP leaders have too much time to observe my movement. It would be better if they do their work and let me do mine”.