From khaki to khadi 'to serve people'

Lucknow: Changing his uniform from khaki to khadi, former Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Rajeshwar Singh, who is in the poll fray from the BJP, says he joined politics as working for the people as a bureaucrat posed several restrictions.

The former high-profile officer hardly found any time to learn the nuances of politics as the BJP nominated him as a candidate from Sarojini Nagar in Lucknow, days after the government accepted his plea for Voluntary Retirement from Service.

The Sarojini Nagar Assembly constituency will go to polls in the fourth phase on February 23 along with other constituencies of Lucknow. Wasting no time, the ex-cop donned the role of “neta ji” and found himself campaigning from door-todoor in the constituency.

“I was a police officer. It was something very dear to me, but I have now chosen politics. I want to work in such a manner that I don't regret my decision of leaving the force,” he told PTI during the campaign trail. Speaking further, Singh said,

“There are several restrictions when you are in a job. That is why I decided to join politics. This will enable me to work for the common people on a wider platform.” The BJP chose Singh for the Sarojini Nagar seat over state minister Swati Singh and her husband Dayashankar Singh, the BJP state vice president, both of whom were eyeing for a ticket from this constituency.

Rajeshwar Singh was found greeting voters with folded hands seeking their support. If a voter raised a complaint or a query, Singh made it a point to hear him out. Asked why he chose the BJP, Singh said, “The BJP is the only party that functions democratically. You can grow in BJP based on your hard work.

“The Congress, BSP and the SP have been reduced to parties of families. There is no democracy in these parties and the entire party machinery works only for the development of a particular family.” Singh joined the Uttar Pradesh Police in 1996 after completing B.Tech from IIT-Dhanbad and had been posted as a circle officer in many parts of Lucknow. A Ph.D in police, human rights and social justice, Singh joined the ED, a central investigation that probes cases of money laundering and foreign exchange violation crimes.