In the autumn of his political career, this patriarch has been forced to wage one more desperate electoral battle to keep alive the fortunes of his son. It is a battle that Arjun Sngh is waging alone, but in a sense a collective fathers’ battle — in the league of veterans such as BJP state chief Kailash Joshi and lesser known politicians such as PCC chief Radhakishn Malviya.It is a battle that three-time MP and chief minister Arjun Singh should not have had to wage. His son Ajay Singh, aka Rahul Bhaiyya, has been a minister in Digvijay’s government for the past five years. People in his constituency say he has done some amount of work here and it is for all to see. But typical of a second generation politician, he is known to be aloof and arrogant, not unnoticed by his constituency.And hence, Arjun Singh is back to Churhat where he started his career in 1957. The helicopter ferrying him to various venues in the state is grounded in Churhat and over the past six days, he has been braving the Digvijay roads, travelling from village to village, reminding people of his long association with Churhat. And the people are clearly responding to Dau Saheb, if not his son. They campaign separately; Arjun Singh says he can’t keep up with Rahul’s pace but it could be the other way round too. Even his campaign posters carry a photograph of his father — of an Arjun Singh standing tall, waving to the crowds. It does not show the the cane he carries today or the strain of addressing six to seven rallies a day. On the last day of the campaign, he begins his speech at Padkhuri village. ‘‘Purani yaadein taaji ho gai hain (old memories have been refreshed). Over 45 years have passed since I first spoke here. Elections are in their own place, but we have been together in joy and sorrow. now it is time for a new generation. Rahul has worked for you over the past five years.’’ The gathering hangs on to every word. ‘‘If Rahul has not done something, tell me, I’ll persuade him. If you feel he has done what I see around you, give him five more years to serve you.’’ It is a telling commentary on the state administration that he avoids any mention of 10 years of Divijay rule. ‘‘Everytime we take Digvijay’s name, we lose a few votes. People will vote for Rahul because of Dau Saheb,’’ says a supporter.Just before reaching Mohaniya, his last halt before lunch, the veteran says it’s the most precariously poised village as the BSP is strong here. He has to tell the villagers why they should not vote for the BSP.Back on the road, he says it’s been more of a homecoming. ‘‘While I may not have travelled through each and every road in the constituency, I am unlikely to lose my way around here.’’ That’s what Rahul is counting on.
