Syed Habib/Kamal Kumawat, Udaipur

When a story continues for a long time on the silver screen, each of its characters grows deeper with the passage of time. One is reminded of the immortal Raj Kapoor song from Awaara: “Dam Bhar Jo Udhar Munh Phere, O Chanda…” Politics, too, is much the same game of light and shadow. At times, you find yourself at the very top; at others, you spend years waiting silently in the wings for your turn.

When you look closely at the electoral landscape of Ward 75 in Udaipur, the City of Lakes, it does not appear to be merely a superficial contest for a councillor’s seat. It looks more like the return of a seasoned old actor to his roots—a character whose forehead bears the experience of everything from the sweat of student politics to the corridors of the municipal corporation.

This ward is, in many ways, a miniature reflection of India. On one side are informal settlements, where smoke rising from household stoves bears witness to the daily struggle for survival. On the other are the paved roads and gleaming balconies of Pullan and Modern Complex, where the middle class and affluent sections weave the fabric of their dreams.

The social fabric of this ward, home to people from 36 different communities, stands like a multi-storeyed stage set, reflecting the diversity of the country. There is a subdued sense of resentment in the air against the old representatives. In such a situation, the fact that Mahendra Singh Shekhawat’s name emerged without opposition even amid internal differences within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says a great deal about his credibility on the ground.

The Congress has fielded Tulsiram Lohar, who has his own political presence, while three independents are also trying their luck. Yet Mahendra Singh Shekhawat appears to remain at the centre of the contest.

From Student Politics to the Municipal Corridors

The mention of Mahendra Singh Shekhawat immediately brings to mind the campus of Mohanlal Sukhadia University, three decades ago. From his days as student union president to nearly a decade of involvement in student politics, he was often the final point of contact for students grappling with their problems.

Even today, the mention of his name evokes the image of a student leader in the minds of many. And the scene remains much the same in the lanes of Ward 75.

The poignant song from the film Do Bigha Zamin comes to mind: “Apni Kahani Chhod Ja, Kuchh To Nishani Chhod Ja…” People here do not come merely to listen to election speeches. Instead, they can often be seen holding slips detailing their pending problems and handing them over to him.

Shekhawat’s manner is less that of a politician and more that of an old, familiar neighbour. He blends into the narrow lanes of informal settlements as naturally as a son returning home. And when he sits in the drawing rooms of Modern Complex, the conversation rises above potholes, water and electricity issues to serious discussions on urban development, U.D. tax, royalty, tourism and urban economics.

Listening to problems is not enough for him; finding a possible path towards their solution appears to be an old habit.

A Vision Beyond Ward 75

When the conversation turns to the future of the city, a clear vision emerges in his eyes: transforming the vacant land along the Ahar River into a new tourism landmark.

He does not beat the drum about his ambitions for the mayor’s post, but his understanding of the city’s traffic and parking problems appears as instinctive as that of a skilled doctor reading a patient’s pulse.

He understands that Udaipur’s heartbeat is powered by tourism—and if that pulse is brought back into proper rhythm, the city’s pace will automatically accelerate.

“My Nine Years of Exile, His Fourteen Years Are Now Over”

A few days ago, city MLA Tarachand Jain took the stage in support of Shekhawat and made a striking observation:

“I had nine years of political exile, and Shekhawat’s 14-year exile has now come to an end.”

Whether it is the story of the Ramayana or the ebb and flow of politics, when a character returns to the people’s court after a long period of exile, the test is not merely about victory or defeat.

The real question is whether the people will return the same old trust to the companion who has stood among them for years.

The timeless song from the film Safar begins to play in one’s mind:

“Zindagi Ka Safar, Hai Yeh Kaisa Safar…

Koi Samjha Nahin, Koi Jaana Nahin…”

Who will become mayor and whose chair will be placed in the corridors of power remains hidden in the haze of the future.

But on the ground in Ward 75, one thing appears certain today—the character is old, the stage is set, and the people seem eager to create a new democratic scene alongside their old companion.

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