Kalavati is 'economic icon' of India: Swatantra Bharat

The Swatantra Bharat (SB) party, which is supporting candidature of Kalavati fielded by its alliance partner Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) today described the woman, who hogged limelight with Rahul Gandhi's mention, as "economic icon" of the country.

The SB president Sharad Joshi told reporters here that his party, which has formed a front with VJAS to fight 63 seats in Vidarbha and Marathwada region, was not supporting Kalavati's candidature as an emotional issue but regarded her as a representative of those suffering from economic hardships.

On Kalavati's illness and hospitalisation, he said as per his information she had already filed her nomination travelling to election office by an ambulance.

The SB-VJAS front which champions the cause of farmers, has announced Kalavati's candidature from Vani assembly seat in Vidarbha's Yavatmal district.

Joshi also ridiculed Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray for parading themselves as farmers' leaders without having knowledge of the issues faced by agriculturists.

The SB manifesto said if it came to power, measures would be initiated to make farmers in the state debt-free "within 24hours".