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Sushma Swaraj's relations and personal equations with the people of Ballari district in Karnataka were unique in multiple ways, to such an extent that now a feeling persists in their minds as though they have lost their daughter in the passing away of Ms Swaraj! The former Union External Affairs Minister developed a close rapport with the people of Ballari district, notoriously known for the mining mafia and destruction of natural resources, during the late nineties. She came down to Ballari, way back during the fag end of 1999 to take head-on Sonia Gandhi in the Parliamentary polls. Interestingly, Sonia Gandhi had filed her nomination papers from Ballari Lok Sabha constituency apart from Raybareli, the family's traditional bastion in Uttar Pradesh. Ballari district, ever since the country gained independence had transformed itself into a fortress of the Indian National Congress(INC) party. This taken for a granted fact was so much omnipotent that Congressmen used to joke