Akhilesh Yadav can be PM, says Congressman Shotgun’s wife

Alliance candidate Poonam Sinha

filed her nomination from Lucknow on Thursday, accompanied by husband Shatrughan Sinha, who is contesting as a Congress candidate from Patna Sahib. Soon after their road show, TOI’s Neha Lalchandani and Pervez Iqbal Siddiqui caught up with the couple and

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav

. Excerpts

It’s a tough contest against

BJP’s Rajnath Singh

. How do you assess your chances after the road show?
• Poonam| The political environment in Lucknow is very positive. Yes, Rajnath ji is contesting from here, but electoral upsets do happen. Akhilesh Yadav has done wonders in Lucknow and I believe he can be prime minister. I am in safe hands.

You are a Congress candidate. How did your party react to your decision to campaign for your wife and SP candidate Poonam?
• Shatrughan| I am above any party. I cannot be tied down to a party or place. I am the son of India and Congress knows this. I am not ashamed of campaigning for my wife. I have stood by my principles and it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks or says. The aim of this election, as Priyanka Gandhi said, is to remove the mukhiya. We have to fight against the one-man show (PM Narendra Modi) and two-man army (Modi and Amit Shah). Ghee daal mein hi jayega, chahe jaise bhi daalo. I am campaigning for my wife. Humne saat phere liye hein, kasmein khayi hain. I have to support her and have come here with my sons.

But Congress has also fielded a candidate from Lucknow.

• Shatrughan| That is alright. This is democracy and everyone has a right to contest.

How do you assess your chances in Lucknow?
Dimple| People understand the work done by the SP government for Lucknow. They will vote for development.

And you have additional backing in Shatrughan Sinha?
• Dimple| Shatrughan ji is the showstopper.

Poonam says Akhilesh is worthy of being PM. You are in Congress and your president Rahul Gandhi is aiming to be the next PM.

• Shatrughan| She did not say, he is the PM, but said he would make a good PM. Dimple and Akhilesh are one unit. They are loved by everyone across party lines. I also see a great potential in Rahul Gandhi. Soon after taking over as Congress president, he captured three Hindi heartland states. It was a historic win.

How are you going to reach out to voters in Lucknow?
• Poonam| Humare apne log hain yahan. Dimple and Akhilesh are like family to us. I have received so much love and acceptance. Lucknow is known for care and hospitality and I am sure I will be welcomed with open arms.

Why did you decide to enter politics at this point?
• Poonam| I should have taken the plunge 10 years ago.

Shatrughan| It’s difficult till children are not settled. Running a home is no less than running the nation. She has also made huge contributions to my campaigns and has been actively involved in social causes. Now, India is cosmopolitan. It doesn’t matter where you are from. Akhilesh is like family. They convinced Poonam to contest from Lucknow. They said, she doesn’t come with baggage, signifies women empowerment and is educated. I think this is the right time for her to join politics.

Will Poonam also campaign for you in Patna?
• Shatrughan| Poonam is not a senior in politics right now (laughs). It was felt by Mayawati ji, Akhilesh ji and other senior people in the two parties that we should focus on Lucknow for the time being. My election is in the last phase and I can take out time to come here. We may, if schedules permit, also campaign for Akhilesh ji and Dimple ji.

Your sons were here to support you. Will your daughter Sonakshi also be coming?
• Poonam| She is busy right now, but she may come later.

Dimple (turns around and clasps Poonam’s arm)| But I really think she should come. Shatrughan ji came for his wife. Sonakshi must come for her mother.

Poonam| Yes you are right, she must come.