Shatrughan Sinha with wife Poonam and Dimple Yadav in Lucknow

The BJP veteran, who joined Congress this month, campaigned for wife Poonam, an SP candidate, in Lucknow on Thursday. After a roadshow in which SP MP Dimple Yadav accompanied them, TOI caught up with the three for a chat:

It’s a tough contest against Rajnath Singh . How do you assess your chances after the road show?

Poonam: The political environment in Lucknow is very positive. Yes, Rajnath ji is contesting from here, but upsets do happen. Akhilesh Yadav has done wonders in Lucknow and I believe he can be prime minister. I am in safe hands.

You are a Congress candidate. How did your party react to you campaigning for your wife, an SP candidate?

Shatrughan: I am above any party. I cannot be tied down to a party or place. I am the son of India and Congress knows this. I am not ashamed of campaigning for my wife. I have stood by my principles and it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks or says. The aim of this election, as Priyanka Gandhi said, is to remove the ‘mukhiya’ (chieftain). We have to fight against the one-man show and two-man army.

Congress has also fielded a candidate from Lucknow…

Shatrughan: That is alright. This is democracy and everyone has a right to contest.

How do you assess your chances in Lucknow?

Dimple: People understand the work done by the SP government for Lucknow. They will vote for development.

Poonam says Akhilesh is worthy of being PM. You are in Congress, whose president Rahul Gandhi is aiming to be the next PM

Shatrughan: She did not say he is the PM, but that he would make a good PM. Dimple and Akhilesh are one unit. They are loved by everyone across party lines. I also see great potential in Rahul Gandhi. Soon after taking over as Congress president, he captured three Hindi heartland states.

Why did you decide to enter politics at this point?

Poonam: I should have taken the plunge 10 years ago.

Shatrughan: It’s difficult till children are not settled. Running a home is no less than running the nation. She has also made huge contributions to my campaigns and has been actively involved in social causes. Now, India is cosmopolitan. It doesn’t matter where you are from. Akhilesh is like family. They convinced Poonam to contest from Lucknow... I think this is the right time for her to join politics.

Will Poonam also campaign for you in Patna?

Shatrughan: It was felt by Mayawati ji, Akhilesh ji and other senior people in the two parties that we should focus on Lucknow for the time being. My election is in the last phase and I can take out time to come here. We may, if schedules permit, also campaign for Akhilesh ji and Dimple ji.

Your sons were here to support you. Will your daughter Sonakshi also be coming?

Poonam: She is busy right now, but she may come later.

Dimple: (clasps Poonam’s arm) But I really think she should come. Shatrughan ji came for his wife. Sonakshi must come for her mother.

Poonam: Yes you are right, she must come.

