Youth prepones marriage to taste electoral success

Varanasi, Oct 11 (UNI) After failing to contest the local body polls for the second time running, a youth here preponed his marriage slated for February, only to ensure his bride is able to enter the electoral fray for the post of municipal corporator of Birdopur ward.

Vinod Bhardwaj (28) could not contest the municipal corporation polls in 2001, as the Birdopur ward became a seat reserved for women, courtesy the process of delimitation and reservation of constituencies.

''I was sure to contest the polls this time on the ruling Samajwadi Party ticket, but at the last moment owing to legal wrangles, the seat remained reserved for women,'' Mr Bhardwaj told UNI here today.

Seeing his prospects of becoming a municipal corporator fade away, Vinod swiftly discovered a masterstroke to fulfill his electoral ambition.

He decided to prepone his marriage to Prem Sheila (25) and entered the wedlock on September 30 with her at a temple followed by the registeration of marriage in court.

Now, instead of Vinod, it is his better half who is contesting from Birdopur as the official SP candidate, only to fulfill the ambition of her husband.

''I have no other priority, except to win the election slated on October 31, to ensure the actualisation of my husband's cherished dream,'' chuckled Prem Sheila.

Vinod, however, confronted her viewpoint saying, ''if she triumphs in the election, it will be her victory alone.'' He went on to add that Prem Sheila will not be the female leader acting as puppet in the hands of her husband, but will act on her own to further public cause.

The newly married couple, however, seemed to agree on a major point ''that victory will be theirs.'' During the last two elections, the seat has been decided by a margin of not more than 500 votes.

''This time, however, the win for Prem Sheila will be over 1,000 votes owing to this unique story behind her sudden plunge into electoral battle,'' Vinod maintained.

The young SP leader, who claims Prem Sheila's candidature will also attract women voters, hitherto with BJP, however, has one regret of not getting the chance to enjoy the honeymoon due to the electoral drama. ''I will certainly go to Shimla or Manali with my corporator wife after a grand wedding reception to the electorate once elections are over,'' averred Vinod.

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