Beggar elected village headman in Western UP

A beggar in Khai Kheri village, Western Uttar Pradesh, has been elected 'gram pradhan' (village headman). Dharamvir, 35, contested the village panchayat elections under Purqazi block after residents collected money for him, official sources said.

Dharamvir supports his family by begging. Upon being elected, he told PTI he would work for the development of the village, adding, "I will try to get more funds by begging from the government."

The panchayat raj elections in UP have seen also seen candidates being fielded by notorious dacoits like Nirbhay Gujjar and Shiv Kumar (a.k.a. Dadua). Campaigning for these candidates is done by the dacoit gangs and villagers are warned not to contest the polls. This is not a new development in the state, where dacoits have turned to politics as a career even in the past.