By IANS,
Nagpur : Kalavati Bandurkar, the farmer’s widow from Yavatmal in Maharashtra who shot to fame after her encounter with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, was rushed to a hospital early Friday following hypertension, according to her aide. A few days back, Kalavati had announced her intention to contest the forthcoming polls to the state assembly.
“She had gone to meet her daughter in a nearby village, but complained of giddiness, vomiting and other problems. A medico who examined her said she was suffering from hypertension and asked her to be admitted to a hospital,” said Vinod Tiwari, an office-bearer of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS).
She was rushed to the Yavatmal district hospital after midnight. Though her condition has been described as “serious” by the doctors, she is stable and under observation, he said.
Since Friday is the last date for filing of nominations for the Oct 13 Maharashtra assembly polls, VJAS and the Republican Left Democratic Front (known as Third Front) are anxiously awaiting medical advice on whether she can contest.
Kalavati has been named by the VJAS as its candidate for the polls.
Meanwhile, the VJAS has prepared another widow – Babitai Bais – to stand from Wani assembly constituency if Kalavati does not recover soon.
“We have decided that this time, a Vidarbha farmer’s widow must be elected to the assembly. It will be our way of tribute to the memory of over 7,000 debt-ridden farmers who committed suicide in the region. In September alone, 10 farmers killed themselves in Yavatmal district where over 1,600 people have died so far,” VJAS president Kishore Tiwari told IANS.
Tiwari alleged that Sulabh International chief Bindeshwar Pathak has been constantly pressuring Kalavati not to stand for elections or forfeit an aid package of over Rs.2 million promised to the people of the district.
“He sent her a letter in English, then Hindi and now in Marathi, asking her not to contest or campaign against Rahul Gandhi. Kalavati could not take the pressure and fell prey to hypertension,” he pointed out.
He reiterated that VJAS will make a serious attempt to “empower” the widows and orphans of Vidarbha and a widow elected from here shall be their face in the assembly.
The Vidarbha region includes Yavatmal, Nagpur, Akola, Gondia, Gadchiroli, Wardha, Amravati, Buldana, Washim, Bhandara and Chandrapur districts.
The Wani seat shall also be contested by the Congress and Shiv Sena candidates.