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Man from slum joins electoral fray in Mumbai While candidates declare their financial assets that sometimes reach hundreds and thousands of crore, there is a candidate in Mumbai who lives in a slum and has just over Rs 300 as savings. His home is a rented tenement in a slum; his savings a few hundred rupees. Yet, 30-year-old Ashwini Pathak -- the poorest candidate in these elections -- has decided to jump into the big bad world of politics.
"There is corruption all around. No one listens to the poor. Therefore I want to go to Parliament," he said.
A stabbing feeling of being powerless made this Gorakhpur-born lawyer take the gamble and he spent Rs 10,000 as deposit to the Election Commission. He had earned this money over a period of eight years making legal documents. "When I went to take BA admissions, the college made me wait for hours. Another boy came with a recommendation from a local MP, and his admission happened in two minutes," Ashwini said. He is fighting Eknath Gaikwad of the Congress and Suresh Gambhir of the Shiv Sena. "I am hopeful that people will vote. When they can vote for the others then they will also send me to Parliament. Powerful candidates throw money and feed biryani to people on polling day. These tactics to win won't work," a hopeful Ashwini said. Ashwini Pathak may not be able to afford rallies or processions, but his campaign is being run by his family and friends through word of mouth. Source: NDTV |