Mumbai:
Kalavati, the symbol of hardship of farmers in the suicide-ridden Vidarbha region, will not fight the Maharashtra assembly polls. The farm widow, who first made headlines when Rahul Gandhi mentioned her during a speech in Parliament, withdrew her nomination on health grounds on Saturday.
Kalavati was in hospital with severe chest pains on Friday morning, leading to concerns that she wouldn't be able to file her nomination before the deadline. But a few hours later, her party escorted her to complete her formalities.
Kalavati was introduced to India last year, when Rahul Gandhi mentioned her in a speech in Parliament. Her husband, a farmer committed suicide in 2005 because he couldn't repay his loans. Kalavati lived all her life in a village without electricity. Gandhi shared her story as an example of how India's nuclear deal with America will help deliver power to rural parts of the country.
Last week, she announced that she would stand for elections from the Wani Constituency in the Yavatmal district, representing the Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti. Another farm widow Babytai Bai will contest instead.
Kalavati's party alleges that she is being pressured to skip the elections by Sulabh International, an NGO that offer her a donation of 30 lakhs after Gandhi shared her story in Parliament. The NGO has reportedly asked Kalavati to focus on social work, and to avoid any role that requires political affiliation.