PATNA: Wives of many prospective Lok Sabha candidates have launched electioneering in absence of their husbands, much before the official announcement of candidates by respective parties.For instance, Snehlata, wife of former Union minister and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha , is already campaigning for her husband in the Karakat Lok Sabha constituency in Rohtas district. “Snehlata has taken over campaigning in absence of her husband, who is currently busy in seat-sharing talks in Delhi,” said Birendra Kumar, 40, a diehard supporter of Kushwaha.On Saturday, Snehlata (55) was spotted campaigning in the areas falling under Sanjhauli block in Karakat assembly segment. Karakat Lok Sabha constituency is going to polls in the seventh phase. Though Snehlata, a homemaker, refused to share more information, she admitted that the door-to-door campaign was underway.Accompanied by Seema Kushwaha, state secretary of the party and district board member of Rohtas, Snehlata has already undertaken canvasing in villages under Nasariganj, Akaurigola and Dehri blocks of the constituency. “She started the campaigning about three months ago,” Birendra, a resident of Kargahar in Rohtas district, said.Rumours were agog that Snehlata may be fielded as nominee of the RLSP from Karakat from where her husband was elected in 2014 parliamentary election and later inducted into the Narendra Modi cabinet. Upendra Kushwaha had contested the 2014 general election as part of the NDA. He switched over to Grand Alliance a couple of months ago.“Upendra Kushawaha may contest from Ujiarpur in Samastipur district and field his wife from Karakat this time. He was very upset after the MPs, who got elected on the RLSP symbols in the previous Lok Sabha poll, deserted the party. That’s why Snehlata has been engaged in the campaigning much before the announcement of the poll schedule,” said a close associate of the RSLP chief.Nisha Singh, wife of JD(U) MLA from Rafiganj Ashok Singh, has been canvassing for the past two months. Hopeful of getting ticket from Aurangabad, Nisha visited Sarawak village under Rafiganj assembly segment of Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency along with her supporters on Saturday to garner support of the people.“It has been almost two months when I started canvassing the electorate in the constituency dominated by Rajputs. My husband is an influential leader of the party and commands respect in the society,” Nisha told this newspaper before moving to another village to woo the electorate.Sushil Kumar Singh of BJP is the sitting MP from Aurangabad.In contrast, don-turned politician Anant Singh is trying to woo the voters in favour of his wife Neelam Devi, who is likely to be fielded as a Congress nominee from the Munger Lok Sabha constituency. Anant, an independent MLA from Mokama, is facing over two dozen criminal cases.Anant organised a roadshow from Mokama to Patna recently. Kartik Singh, a close aide of Anant, said the Mokama legislator was busy in electioneering in Athmalgola and Barh under Munger Lok Sabha constituency.

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