Eunuch enlivens Ayodhya poll campaign
The land of Lord Rama has always been in the news for minority issues. But the election campaign here has been given new momentum by a minority of a different kind. 
Rubbing shoulders with the nominees of the major stake holders is Gulshan Bindu, a eunuch who has filed her nomination papers as an independent candidate from Ayodhya assembly seat which goes to the polls on February eight next in the first phase of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
The labyrinthine streets of Ayodhya have been made colourful by fellow eunuchs who have converged on the constituency to campaign for Gulshan and have been attracting crowd by the way they dance and clap hands.
Gulshan, a resident of Madhubani in Bihar, has roped in Vijay Luxmi of the Big Boss fame along with other eunuchs from Chattisgarh and Gujarat to campaign for her. She does far more than roping in campaigners.
Hit among people
Indeed, Gulshan’s grand development plans and the promise of bringing the town to the international map strikes an instant chord with the people, who are weary of listening to political speeches.
“A fly over on the busy railway crossing in the town, schools for all and round-the-clock power supply,” feature in her message to the constituents.
“You have seen them all...give me a chance now...I have no one for whom I will indulge in corruption,” she tells the voters in this predominantly religious town, about 150 kilometres from Lucknow.
Gulshan, who recently took out a procession from Naya Ghat to Civil lines, was able to attract good crowds, the locals said.
In a politically charged constituency, Gulshan may have little or no chance of winning, but her message certainly finds support amongst voters here. How much of it would actually convert to votes, however, remains to be seen.
