This wife is being groomed for greater things. Sudha Rai --
without a doubt Kalpnath Rai's better half -- made her political debut in 1996. She didn't
stand for elections. She was campaigning for her husband. Rai was going through a rough
patch: he was in jail, he'd just quit the Congress, but Sudha charmed the voters of Ghosi
in UP and he won. Never mind that she lost the assembly polls when she stood from Nathupur
in Ghosi. Cut to 1998. He's standing on a Samata Party ticket, she's still campaigning for
him, but hubby dearest says he might soon take a backseat. "She will be the next MP
from Ghosi," he declares. "I am grooming her to take over from me." When,
brother, when, is the question.
No Sweat
Bhabhiji doesn't have her ac
these days. But she's willing to sweat it out. Kavita Khanna -- wife of
actor-politician Vinod Khanna, youngest daughter of industrialist Sarayu Daftary -- is
being more than just a thoughtful biwi. She's Vinod's unofficial troubleshooter. At an
informal Q&A with college kids in Gurdaspur, the man from Bollywood was asked about
the lack of a government-run college in the area. "You should realise that this is
not a municipal election," she scolded. "He is running for Parliament. Don't bog
him down with local issues." And as Vinod coaxes voters to support him and the BJP,
Kavita's out to prove they're not outsiders who'll dash back to Mumbai in a jiffy if he
wins. Says the glamorous under-40-year-old, with sindoor and diamond mangalsutra on
display: "I want to assure you that I will move here with my family." We'll
remember that.
The Champ in His Camp
The words "Amethi ki bahu (daughter-in-law of
Amethi)" take on a whole new meaning when this lady is around. No her name's not
Sonia, she's no star campaigner either. Ameeta Singh nee Kulkarni once
Modi -- former badminton champ, also once wife of one such -- is hard at work, though.
Campaigning tirelessly for her husband, Sanjay Singh, drawing up lists of polling agents,
generally being the efficient campaign manager. "We (hubby and I) haven't been
together for two months," she laments. Not quite true, that. They get home late in
the evenings, go their separate ways in the morn. Local BJP workers address her as the
thakuraiyin. And why wouldn't they? The jeans have given way to a demure sari, ghunghat on
head and all. The Maharashtrian belle has even picked up the local lingo. "She knows
a little now," says Sanjay proudly. Actually, it's quite a lot.
This Pretty Wife Stayed at Home
Being a former Miss India is her greatest
claim to fame. Being Akbar "Dumpy" Ahmad's gorgeous wife is another. But
strangely enough, Dumpy has not taken Naina Balsavar along to Azamgarh
where he is the official Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. "This is no place for a
woman. This is a man's fight," he declares. A male chauvinist, did we hear you say?
Well, Naina disagrees. "Dumpy would welcome my being by his side," she says
firmly, safely ensconced in their sprawling farmhouse in Sainik Farms, Delhi. "He
calls every night, but Azamgarh is such a rough place." There are the kids to worry
about too -- Azaan, 6, and Alia, 2. Their mama says she simply can't leave them right now.
But surprise, surprise, she harbours political ambitions in her lovely head. The BSP had
approached her for the Nainital seat this time, but "the kids are too young just now.
Next elections I will be there. Don't ask me which party. But I'm very keen on entering
politics." The photographers will be keen too, dunno 'bout the rest..
This wife is being groomed for greater things. Sudha Rai --
without a doubt Kalpnath Rai's better half -- made her political debut in 1996. She didn't
stand for elections. She was campaigning for her husband. Rai was going through a rough
patch: he was in jail, he'd just quit the Congress, but Sudha charmed the voters of Ghosi
in UP and he won. Never mind that she lost the assembly polls when she stood from Nathupur
in Ghosi. Cut to 1998. He's standing on a Samata Party ticket, she's still campaigning for
him, but hubby dearest says he might soon take a backseat. "She will be the next MP
from Ghosi," he declares. "I am grooming her to take over from me." When,
brother, when, is the question. 
Bhabhiji doesn't have her ac
these days. But she's willing to sweat it out. Kavita Khanna -- wife of
actor-politician Vinod Khanna, youngest daughter of industrialist Sarayu Daftary -- is
being more than just a thoughtful biwi. She's Vinod's unofficial troubleshooter. At an
informal Q&A with college kids in Gurdaspur, the man from Bollywood was asked about
the lack of a government-run college in the area. "You should realise that this is
not a municipal election," she scolded. "He is running for Parliament. Don't bog
him down with local issues." And as Vinod coaxes voters to support him and the BJP,
Kavita's out to prove they're not outsiders who'll dash back to Mumbai in a jiffy if he
wins. Says the glamorous under-40-year-old, with sindoor and diamond mangalsutra on
display: "I want to assure you that I will move here with my family." We'll
remember that. 
he words "Amethi ki bahu (daughter-in-law of
Amethi)" take on a whole new meaning when this lady is around. No her name's not
Sonia, she's no star campaigner either. Ameeta Singh nee Kulkarni once
Modi -- former badminton champ, also once wife of one such -- is hard at work, though.
Campaigning tirelessly for her husband, Sanjay Singh, drawing up lists of polling agents,
generally being the efficient campaign manager. "We (hubby and I) haven't been
together for two months," she laments. Not quite true, that. They get home late in
the evenings, go their separate ways in the morn. Local BJP workers address her as the
thakuraiyin. And why wouldn't they? The jeans have given way to a demure sari, ghunghat on
head and all. The Maharashtrian belle has even picked up the local lingo. "She knows
a little now," says Sanjay proudly. Actually, it's quite a lot. 
Being a former Miss India is her greatest
claim to fame. Being Akbar "Dumpy" Ahmad's gorgeous wife is another. But
strangely enough, Dumpy has not taken Naina Balsavar along to Azamgarh
where he is the official Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate. "This is no place for a
woman. This is a man's fight," he declares. A male chauvinist, did we hear you say?
Well, Naina disagrees. "Dumpy would welcome my being by his side," she says
firmly, safely ensconced in their sprawling farmhouse in Sainik Farms, Delhi. "He
calls every night, but Azamgarh is such a rough place." There are the kids to worry
about too -- Azaan, 6, and Alia, 2. Their mama says she simply can't leave them right now.
But surprise, surprise, she harbours political ambitions in her lovely head. The BSP had
approached her for the Nainital seat this time, but "the kids are too young just now.
Next elections I will be there. Don't ask me which party. But I'm very keen on entering
politics." The photographers will be keen too, dunno 'bout the rest..
