Maharashtra: Independent MP candidate takes to streets solo on bike for Jalgaon Lok Sabha victory bid

By Rajnish Singh
Jalgaon (Maharashtra) [India], May 11 : An independent MP candidate in Maharashtra's Jalgaon Lok Sabha constituency is campaigning solo for himself on a bike and meeting people by walking in the streets.
Aiming for victory, Lalit, alias Bunty Sharma, is taking an unconventional approach to his campaign for the Jalgaon Lok Sabha constituency.
Among the 14 candidates vying for the Jalgaon seat, Sharma is opting to campaign alone, traversing the streets and roads on his bike and personally meeting pedestrians along the way, ensuring they work on common issues like unemployment, road connectivity, and farmers' problems, among others, if he wins the election.
Despite being an independent candidate, Sharma is no stranger to electoral contests. He claims to have garnered nearly 1,108 votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and 8,140 votes in 2019.
Buoyed by past performances, Sharma exuded confidence in securing victory in the upcoming general election.
Lalit, an independent MP candidate, is in the fray for the Jalgaon Lok Sabha constituency among 14 candidates.
Lalit said, "I am a common man and campaign in a normal way. I campaign alone for myself on bike, in buses, and trains, and meet people walking on foot in the streets and roads. I want to work as an employee of common people to resolve issues like unemployment, road connectivity, and the problems of farmers in Jalgaon constituency."
He further said that this was his third poll as a candidate and previously he had fought in 2014 and 2019.
"There is unemployment, farmers are distressed, roads are damaged, and people are not happy here. I will fight and win. My symbol is the bat. Jalgaon has six Vidhan sabha seats. I am a courier delivery person and fighting the polls on savings. I wish to work as a servant," he added.
The candidate also accused other political parties of offering him money to not contest. He said, "I was offered money to not participate in this election but I refused to accept the offer. I will fight and win for the common man."
Jalgaon, situated within Maharashtra's dynamic political arena, is preparing for another pivotal moment in its democratic journey as it readies to vote in the third phase of the general elections set for May 13. In 2013, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil of the BJP won this seat. This year the BJP has fielded Smita Uday Wagh who will be up against Maha Vikas Aghadi Candidate from the UBT Shiv Sena Karan Balasaheb Patil.
As one of Maharashtra's 48 Lok Sabha constituencies, Jalgaon saw significant boundary changes in 2008, absorbing six Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Jalgaon City, Jalgaon Rural, Amalner, Erandol, Chalisgaon, and Pachora. Over the past two decades, this area has cemented its status as a stronghold for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), demonstrating steadfast support for its political agenda.
Maharashtra, with its 48 Lok Sabha seats, is the second-largest contributor to the Lower House of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the undivided Shiv Sena secured 18 out of 23 seats.
Elections to the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will be held in five phases on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20.