Gangsters piggyback lesser known parties
With major political parties shying away from giving them tickets for UP Assembly polls, lesser- known political outfits have become a hot favourite of listed gangsters and those having a criminal past.
After Brijesh Singh was arrested in 2008 from Odisha in connection with several criminal cases pending against him, the lobby backing him tried to ensure his victory in MLC election on a BSP ticket but instead of him, his wife Annapurna Singh was given a chance by the party and emerged victorious.
Denied ticket by major political parties, Singh has now decided to prove his strength as a candidate of Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party (PMSP) from Syed Raza Assembly seat in Chandauli district.
Before his arrest, his brother Udaynath Singh alias Chulbul and nephew Sushil Singh had already entered the political arena by becoming an MLC and an MLA on BJP and BSP tickets.
Similar is the case with Brijesh’s bete noire Mukhtar Ansari, an independent MLA form Mau who had earlier been in SP and BSP and is contesting polls on the ticket of Quami Ekta Dal, floated by his brothers Afzal and Sigbatullaha Ansari. Mukhtar is in jail in connection with various criminal cases lodged against him.
While Mukhtar will contest from Mau seat, his brother Sikbatullaha Ansari will be contesting from Mohammadabad seat in Ghazipur.
The case with Prem Prakash Singh alias Munna Bajrangi, a listed gangster is no different. Accused of killing BJP MLA Krishnanad Rai in 1996, Bajrangi was arrested in 2009 and had been trying to get a party ticket.
While major political parties did not accept his candidature, Apna Dal announced him as a party nominee from Madiyahoo seat of Jaunpur.
While leaders of the outfits which selected these people with criminal past have defended their decision, these candidate are leaving no stone unturned to enter the assembly.
National President of Apna Dal Anupriya Patel feels that once past should not be considered as a criteria and they should be given a chance.
