Banswara MP gets wife to fight BJP

JAIPUR: Former minister in the Ashok Gehlot government Mahendrajit Singh Malviya has fielded his wife Resham as the Congress candidate from the Banswara reserved seat for scheduled tribe, who is contesting on behalf of her spouse. Malviya managed to convince the party's leadership that only he could retain this seat, which Tara Chand Bhagora from Congress had won for the Congress in 2009 by defeating Hakaru Maida of BJP by 2 lakh votes. In Banswara, both Congress and BJP, with each election, change the candidates and alternate it with candidates belonging to Banswara and Dungarpur district. Congress has fielded Resham while BJP has chosen Man Shankar Ninama and both are contesting Lok Sabha election for the first time. Interestingly, no candidate has won this seat for the second consecutive time as with each election the candidates are changed by both the parties.Congress did very well in 2008 assembly elections by winning all the seats in the twin districts fared very poorly in the December elections. Barring Malviya, all other candidates lost the election. On this strength alone, Malviya wanted a ticket for himself as he was elected from this seat in 1998.The Banswara battle is actually one between Malviya and BJP as he is the lone face of Congress in eight assembly segments of the constituency which has a total of 16.97 lakh electors of which majority of the voters--10.86 lakh--are in Banswara and 6.11 lakh in Dungarpur district.During the Congress rule, Malviya's first wife, Kamla, had complained that she is his official wife and bore two sons from their marriage. Both her sons live with Malviya, but he ill treats her and does not give any maintenance. She has complained about it to the state women commission and the matter is still under investigation.During the meeting with the women commission's chairperson, Laad Kumari Jain, last year Kamla had made a written complaint against the former minister that he not only does not give any maintenance to her, but also does not allow her to meet her two sons. One son is pursuing MBSS and the other undergoing training to become a pilot.Kamla is a state government employee and works as a supervisor in the child development department."This issue has been raked up by those who want to make an issue out of nothing. I got separated from Kamla 25 years ago and according to the customs among the Bhils, the tribal panchayat granted me permission for separation. I can marry any number of women as is allowed in the tribal community of the Bhils in southern Rajasthan. I have never objected to her meeting the two sons. The sons are not interested in meeting her. Moreover, Kamla is gainfully employed," said Malviya.Malviya said the Opposition is trying to tarnish his image aiming to harm Resham and her political career. Meanwhile, some women pressure groups that are in touch with Kamla are trying to reopen the issue once again.