<p>Mukhtar Ansari, who withdrew from the Lok Sabha contest against BJP's Narendra Modi in Varanasi, will now be a candidate of his Quami Ekta Dal in Ghosi in Uttar Pradesh.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ansari had announced his candidature from Varanasi last month. He pulled out to prevent a division of Muslim votes against Modi, his supporters said. <br /><br />Lodged in central jail in Agra since 2010 for his alleged role in the murder of a BJP legislator, Krishnand Rai, Ansari lost to BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi in Varanasi in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.<br /><br />But his brother, Afzal Ansari, surprised everyone this week saying there was a "Modi wave" in the country and that the Gujarat chief minister would win in Varanasi. <br /><br />Close aides said Ansari had completed the formalities of contesting the Lok Sabha polls from inside the prison after the returning officer of Mau okayed his candidature for Ghosi.<br /></p>
<p>Mukhtar Ansari, who withdrew from the Lok Sabha contest against BJP's Narendra Modi in Varanasi, will now be a candidate of his Quami Ekta Dal in Ghosi in Uttar Pradesh.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ansari had announced his candidature from Varanasi last month. He pulled out to prevent a division of Muslim votes against Modi, his supporters said. <br /><br />Lodged in central jail in Agra since 2010 for his alleged role in the murder of a BJP legislator, Krishnand Rai, Ansari lost to BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi in Varanasi in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.<br /><br />But his brother, Afzal Ansari, surprised everyone this week saying there was a "Modi wave" in the country and that the Gujarat chief minister would win in Varanasi. <br /><br />Close aides said Ansari had completed the formalities of contesting the Lok Sabha polls from inside the prison after the returning officer of Mau okayed his candidature for Ghosi.<br /></p>