'Hurt' Arjun Singh weeps at Congress meeting

There was a time he was known as the ‘raja’ of Madhya Pradesh. He was credited with a new policy on the procurement of tendu leaves from tribals, adding to the Congress ranks, a new constituency and base, known as a hardnosed negotiator and a wily strategist. But today, Arjun Singh, the Union HRD minister and one of the senior most ministers in the Congress party, presented his softer, more poignant side when he was seen wiping his eyes while speaking in favour of the Congress candidate from Salempur, Bhola Pandey, at a function in Ballia in Uttar Pradesh.

He was asked about the denial of Congress ticket to his son Ajeya Singh from Sidhi and daughter Veena Singh from Satna in Madhya Pradesh. Arjun Singh said he would speak about it when he would start campaigning from April 13 in Madhya Pradesh.The senior Congress leader, however, became emotional during the rally and said, “Bhola Pandey is also like my son, you (people) should ensure his victory.” Singh could not stop his tears and was seen wiping his eyes several times with his handkerchief during the meeting. Later, when reporters asked him in Azamgarh about the reason behind his tears, Singh brushed it off saying “is umar me aisa hota hai” (it happens at such an age).