‘If I can get BJP ticket in few days, imagine all I can achieve in 5 yrs’

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Punahana, October 18

Nauksham Chaudhary arrived on the scene on September 30 with a BJP ticket and within a fortnight, she is in contention in a Muslim-majority seat.

“If I can get the ticket in a few days, you can imagine what I can do in five years. A Hindu woman will win from a seat, with about 85 per cent Muslim voters. It will be history,” said Chaudhary, 28, to crowd at Gangwani village in Punahana.

Sitting in front in a Fortuner, with a cavalcade following her, she arrives for public meetings with fireworks in the background. Men, women and children are jostling to catch a glimpse of her as if she is a star. She makes a point of meeting the women first.

With her head covered, she starts with “As-salaam alaikum” and then “Namaskar”. The speech is laden with Urdu words.

Chaudhary mention her foreign credentials, claims to be the youngest candidate and presents herself as a ray of hope.

“Do not believe in rumours. Someone may say that she will go to London after elections. I am here to stay whether I win or lose.”

“The strongmen have been rejected. Now, you will rule,” said Chaudhary, who has studied in Milan and London and is armed with three MA degrees.

“We want good schools for our children. We want employment. We want easier norms for driving licences. Health and water are the other issues. If Nauksham can get the ticket in a few days, she will be effective,” said Haidar Ali, a resident of Gangwani village who works as driver.

But how did Nauksham get the ticket? She replied, “Ask the party. I am from a family of bureaucrats. No one expected me to get the ticket.” She rubbished the claims about Amit Shah’s push for her.

“A university, jobs for locals in Mewat cadre, labour development programmes and push for investment for setting up industry here is on my agenda,” she said. Nauksham’s father RS Chaudhary retired as a judge while mother Ranjit Kaur is an HCS officer. She is a niece of the deceased IAS officer Harbaksh Singh.

Nauksham is tied in a triangular contest with Independent Rahish Khan and Congress’ Mohd Ilyas. In 2009, the seat was carved out from Ferozepur Jhirka. The first election saw Ilyas winning it while BSP’s Dayawati, also a Hindu, coming close second as the margin was just 2,687 votes. The BJP’s Tayyub was eighth with just 836 votes.

Rahish Khan won the seat as Independent in 2014, while Congress’ Ilyas was second and BJP’s Iqbal was third.

The Congress had first named Aizaz Khan but later replaced him with Ilyas. Aizaz is now campaigning for Nauksham. “With Aizaz Khan on stage and supporting me, the arithmetic of elections has changed,” she told the crowd.

On her agenda

• Good schools for children, employment, easier norms for driving licences. Tackling health and water issues
• A university, jobs for locals, labour development programmes and push for investment for setting up industry