He is an ex-cop and his destiny repeatedly brings him face to face with the most dreaded criminals.
In 2004, he resigned from the police service when the political bosses refused to allow him to take action against mafia don Mukhtar Ansari in a case related to the purchase of a light machine gun.
In 2012, he has been pitted against Brijesh Singh, another dreaded criminal who is contesting from behind the bars.
Shailendra Singh, an ex-police officer, is contesting the Syedraza seat in Chandauli district on a Congress ticket and his most formidable rival is Brijesh Singh who is contesting as a candidate of an unknown political outfit called Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party (PMSP) that was formed years ago by bandit queen turned politician Phoolan Devi.
By contesting on the PMSP candidate, Brijesh Singh apparently wants to get the advantage of Nishad votes in the constituency that has a dominant population of his own Thakur community.
Brijesh Singh is currently lodged in Ahmedabad jail but his wife Annapurna Singh and daughter Priyanka Singh are campaigning for him.
Priyanka, in particular, is tugging at the hearts of women when she makes a passionate appeal for her father’s victory.
Annapurna Singh, who is a Bahujan Samaj Party MLA, is openly campaigning for her husband and against the local BSP candidate.
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Unemployment allowance new minister mantra
Age Correspondent
Lucknow, Feb. 12
Amidst raging controversy over his statements, Union law minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday promised unemployment allowance to those who did not get 100 days’ work under the MNREGA programme.
He also said that quota for backward Muslims, which had been put on hold due to the elections, will be implemented immediately after conclusion of the poll process.
While addressing a meeting in Amethi on Sunday, Mr Khurshid said that the government will provide unemployment allowance to those who could not get 100 days’ job under MNREGA and also free food and education to children between 6 to 14 years of age.
Mr Khurshid further said that a law will soon be enacted to ensure proper compensation to farmers whose land is being acquired for setting up industries. These farmers will be given a price that will be six times more than the circle rate so that they do not have to depend on others for livelihood.
The minister said that for the jobless educated youth, it is being contemplated to provide jobs to them in private firms after training, the expenses of which will be borne by the Centre.