Lucknow: His name used to send shivers down the spine in ravines of Chambal in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in the seventies. But the former dacoit now describes himself as a "baagi" (rebel) and vows to fight against 'dacoits in society' and stand rock-solid for their cause. He is Malkhan Singh Rajpoot, 76, who is testing his electoral fortunes from Dhauhara constituency as Shivpal Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) candidate. "Mahaul accha hai...dhuan dhaar lad rahe hai" (The scenario is good...I am contesting solidely)," Malkhan, who was the uncrowned emperor of dacoits of Chambal in the 1970's, told PTI over phone when asked how his election prospects.

"I will win...my party is strong and I am getting good response wherever I go in the constituency," he claimed. Asked about issues being raised by him, Malkhan, who was first picked up by police in 1964 when he was just 17-year-old under the Arms Act, said, "I will stand rock-solid for the cause of the people and save them from dacoits in society whom they face everyday." "Garibon, mahilaon par anyay aur atyachar ke khilaf khada rahunga," (I will stand against those who commit atrocities on poor and women)," he said. "As a 'pehredar of Chambal', I took care of all irrespective of their caste. I don't carry any blot now," he said, recalling his past when he was known as a dreaded dacoit of Chambal. "No one can met injustice to anyone here. I will ensure that. They (people) will only get benefited by me as their representative," Malkhan said, when asked why people should vote for a 'dacoit', as he is perceived. "I was not a dacoit.