BIJNOR: Monday was the last day of filing nomination papers for the first phase of 2019 Lok Sabha (LS) elections. Several local political heavyweights arrived at the collectorate’s office in Bijnor with their supporters. However, in the midst of the poll hullabaloo, there was one candidate who stood out. He wasn’t a celebrity or a heavyweight. He arrived barefoot with a handful of supporters in a hired vehicle.Meet Mukesh Kumar . He is the All India Forward Bloc candidate from Uttar Pradesh 's Bijnor LS constituency. His symbolic ‘barefoot’ act is for a cause. The 42-year-old candidate is determined to “work for the poor” and is “ready to struggle for the people”.And Kumar plans to not only campaign barefoot, but also remain without shoes till April 11 – the polling day. He told TOI, “I don’t wear any shoes when I work for an important cause. Today, I’m filing my nomination papers for the crucial parliamentary elections. Therefore, I came barefoot. I want to inform the people that I can struggle for their cause.”According to Kumar, leaders from various political parties are not interested in the welfare and progress of the people. They are only interested in their votes, he added.Kumar, who earns his livelihood thanks to a shop in Jaleelpur, resides in Khanpur Khadar village under Jaleelpur block of Chandpur tehsil. “I’ve been working for welfare of the poor for many years now. I had even formed a committee a few years ago. This panel works for the downtrodden. Our panel members also make the people aware of their fundamental rights. I am in regular touch with the local people,” said the class VIII drop out.Around 14 candidates filed their nominations from Bijnor. Some of them included BJP’s Kunwar Bharatendra Singh, BSP-SP-RLD alliance candidate Malook Nagar and Congress nominee Naseemuddin Siddiqui.For ‘barefoot’ Kumar, it is an improbable task to win enough votes. However, in this poll season, he will surely win some hearts.

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