Gorakhpur: He is seeking votes as a 'living dead'

Gorakhpur: An independent candidate of Gorakhpur's Chauri Chaura constituency, Rajan Yadav, has been seen campaigning for himself round the city in what can be called the most unique and dramatic way.

He sits on arthi (bier) and roams around the city seeking attention of the electorates. He washes the voters' feet and tries to convince them to vote for him.

The 34-year-old, Rajan Yadav aka Arthi Baba is trying his luck for the seventh time from this constituency of Gorakhpur.

He has also opened his election office at Rajghat, crematorium ground of the city.

Rajan has attained a master’s degree in International Business Management from the Gorakhpur University.

Prior to this, he had contested assembly elections of the state in 2007 and 2012 but failed to succeed.

When asked about the logic behind his publicity stunt, he said, "The style shows the difficult situation of a common man who struggles to get his rights in democracy. Although he is alive, the system makes him feel dead.”

IN NEXT SLIDE: Arthi Baba VS PM Modi, Rajnath Singh:

Arthi Baba VS PM Modi, Rajnath Singh:

Arthi Baba had filed his nomination as an independent candidate against home minister Rajnath Singh in Lucknow and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi in 2014 Lok Sabha election. Though, his papers were rejected.

He had also contested against Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath in the last Lok Sabha poll but he could not make it a success.

Strategy:

Every day, Arthi Baba visits people sitting on his bier which is lifted by his supporters on their shoulders. He requests the electorates to let him wash their feet with water as a gesture of his respect and love for them.

IN NEXT SLIDE: Try and try until you succeed:

Try and try until you succeed:

According to Rajan, "Success does not come in the first go as its a hard nut to crack. We have to try and try until we succeed. One day people will value my struggle and I will be elevated to the parliament."

Son of a small farmer, Rajan is a resident of Gorakhpur's Nandanagar locality .