The Gun And The Ballot

Veer Singh, son of Dadua, one of Chambal’s most wanted dacoits, is the new panchayat district president from Chitrakoot. His victory, on a Samajwadi Party ticket, is seen as a major shot in the arm for his father who carries a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh on his head and is wanted in over 200 cases. Veer’s victory celebrations was almost as if he’d won an LS election. Dadua’s arch rivals—Thokia and Radhey—too were present at a function held in native village Devkali. BSP and BJP leaders rubbed shoulders and SP MP Shyamacharan Gupta was in attendance. Dadua, who campaigns for the SP, has got many of his relatives into politics. Brother Balkumar is an active SP member, and his wife is Devkali village pradhan. Dadua’s two brothers-in-law, Phool Singh and Ramesh Chandra, are district panchayat members.