'My duty as husband, head of family': Shatrughan Sinha on campaigning for wife Poonam in Lucknow

Shatrughan Sinha, the Bollywood icon and popular politician, is in tight spot. Contesting from Patna Sahib on Congress ticket, the former BJP veteran is facing new home truth. Should he be campaigning for his wife Poonam Sinha, who is fighting the prestigious poll battle from Lucknow? Yes, says the Shotgun. “It is my duty as the head of the family and a husband to support my family,” Sinha was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The controversy erupted after a reported displeasure expressed by Congress’ Lucknow candidate Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who reportedly said that Sinha should not be campaigning for his wife.

Interestingly, Sinha was also present when his wife filed the nomination for the Lok Sabha elections. What complicates the situation is both husband and wife contesting the Lok Sabha Elections on tickets of two political rival parties. While it wouldn’t be a trouble for them as they are contesting from two different places in two different states, however, the twist in the tale is the campaigning bit. If ‘Shotgun’ campaigns for his wife, he might be doing his ‘duty as a husband’ but that would mean going against his party that has fielded a different candidate in Lucknow.  

With Home Minister Rajnath Singh, SP’s Poonam Sinha and Congress’ Acharya Pramod Krishnam - it will be a 3-cornered battle in Lucknow. Born on July 2, 1962, Krishnam runs an ashram in Sambhal. He was the Congress's candidate from Sambhal in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but finished fifth. He made headlines in 2015 when he equated Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Indian Mujahideen

The Lucknow seat is with BJP since 1991 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee won. He broke his own record in 1996 by defeating Raj Babbar (SP) by a margin of 1,18,671 votes. In 1998, SP gave ticket to Muzaffar Ali, who also tasted defeat and Atal's victory margin rose to 2.16 votes.

In 1999, Karan Singh of Congress tried to give a tough fight to Vajpayee but ultimately lost by 1.23 votes. In his last polls in 2004 again he again won by defeating Madu Gutpa (SP) by 2.18 lakh votes.

The legacy of Vajpayee was taken forward by his old associate Lalji Tandon, now serving as Governor in Bihar. He won the 2009 polls by securing 34.93 per cent votes while rival Rita Bahuguna Joshi (then Congress) got 27.93 per cent votes.