When politicians roam around in fleets of swanky cars, a BJP MLA from Garautha in Jhansi reached the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Bhawan building in a bullock cart to participate in the opening day proceedings of the UP Assembly.
"I am a leader of farmers. So I will use only that mode of transport which they use in villages," said Jawahar Lal Rajpoot on taking to 18th century mode of transport.
As per his 2017 affidavit submitted to the Election Commission, the MLA does not own a car but has movable and immovable assets worth Rs 1.17 crore.
A crorepati legislator coming in bullock cart may be seen as a gimmick to hog media headlines. But, riding bullock cart is not new to the MLA. His convoy on a bullock cart at the time of filing nomination had become talk of the town in Jhansi.
However, the owner of bullock cart Ram Lakhan is a worried man. He was particularly annoyed on the 'vanishing act' by the MLA and his men when it comes to making payments.
Ram Lakhan had started from Jhansi five days ago covering a distance of over 300 kms to reach Lucknow on Sunday evening. Not given any advance, he was promised a handsome amount on reaching the state capital by a supporter who had hired him for the MLA's bullock cart ride to Vidhan Bhawan.
"I waited inside Vidhan Bhawan but was shown the doors by security personnel as my bullock cart was blocking ways of other vehicles," said Lakhan. New to Lucknow, the owner somehow reached the BJP office from where the BJP MLA had boarded his cart.
However, it turned out to be a nightmare for him as neither the MLA nor his supporters turned up. Whatever food and fodder he was carrying got finished and he had to spend the day under scorching sun with his ox without food and water.
"I suffered a lot en route but was happy by the promise of the person who hired me to earn enough for buying a buffalo. But it seems I was fooled," said Ram Lakhan in quavering voice.
Later, a BJP office-bearer provided food to him and fodder to ox and promised to ensure that his dues would be cleared either by the MLA or by the party. He was a bit happy after the assurance but vowed never to allow any politician to ride his bullock cart again.
