INDORE: Election campaign of the district’s only third gender candidate , who is contesting from BJP bastion Indore II-constituency , gained momentum with her unique ways to seek voters’ support by giving them ‘Ashirwad’.Bala Vaishwara,26, who is also the youngest among 96 candidates from Indore district, is reaching out to voters, especially financially-weaker section of the society, with a promise to raise their issues like unemployment, education, extortion etc. “My prime focus is to raise issues which are affecting poor people of this constituency as they are neglected by the public representatives and authorities concerned,” the independent candidate told TOI.Campaigning in her unique way, Vaishwara is visiting narrow streets of the slum areas amidst announcement of her promise from an auto-rickshaw, ‘Garib ko do waqt ki roti aurr izzat ki jindagi’, driving ahead of her rally of supporters.Unlike other candidates, people can be seen touching feet of Vaishwara, seeking her blessings and also requesting her to at least have some snacks/tea at their home. They also request Vaishwara to give them ' Barkati Sikka ' (lucky coin), which is believed to bring them good luck.“We have been taught in the family to respect Kinnar (eunuchs) as it’s our belief that their blessings help us lead a prosperous life. They usually don’t even drink water or eat anything at anybody’s home but if they do, it’s a good sign for the host,” Jitendra Sahu, one of the residents of Solanki Nagar where Vaishwara campaigned, said.The independent candidate can be seen guarded by a gunman provided by the police on her request. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Ramesh Mendola also met the people in Scheme 78 and neighboring areas while Congress candidate Mohan Singh Sengar sought voters’ support during his campaigning in Vijay Nagar and Scheme 54.

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