‘Entered poll fray to challenge monopoly’

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 22

Ravi, a vegetable seller who has filed his nomination as an Independent candidate for the Shimla (reserve) seat, says he is financially well off and confident that people will vote for a genuine candidate.

“Neither the BJP, nor the Congress worked for the welfare of the Schedule Caste and the downtrodden. I am here to challenge the monopoly of major political parties and some families and individuals who have been winning from this seat,” said the 39-year-old.

“I was hurt when Kedar Singh Jindan, a Dalit leader, was mercilessly crushed under an SUV on September 7 at Bakras village in the Shillai subdivision of Sirmaur and main political parties remained mum on the issue. No one has acknowledged me for raising serious issues,” said Ravi.

He said health was a casualty in the constituency and people from Solan, Sirmaur and interiors of Shimla had to run to the IGMC with their problems.

Ravi, a Dalit, said he was unhappy that the Shimla constituency had lagged behind in development. “Even basic facilities like roads and quality of education in government schools is not available in parts of the constituency. The state capital goes through water crises every year. Just imagine what people in interior area have to face,” he said.

Ravi owns gold worth Rs 70,000 and a deposit of Rs 5,808. He is not an income tax payer and has not filed any returns in five years.