Mukhtar Ansari’s kin fight to retain power amid BJP’s law and order pitch
In Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, the death of mafia don-politician Mukhtar Ansari in March 2024 is providing much-needed support to the INDIA bloc.
The opposition alliance is banking on Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Afzal Ansari, the sitting Member of Parliament (MP), and Mukhtar’s elder brother, who died after a prolonged illness while still behind bars.
Afzal had won the 2019 elections on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket after defeating Manoj Sinha of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who is now the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.
Aiming to end the dominance of the Ansaris from the largely rural Ghazipur constituency, the BJP has fielded Parasnath Rai, known for his close ties with Sinha, and his Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) roots.
Afzal, however, aims to maintain his family’s political influence after the death of Mukhtar, who was also a former UP lawmaker from Mau. The INDIA bloc is trying to woo the Muslim, Yadav, Other Backward Caste (OBC) and Dalit voters in Ghazipur, while the BJP is wooing the upper castes, Bhumihars, non-Yadav OBCs and Dalits who support Prime Minister Narendra Modi for free , mobilizes ration schedule.
The BJP also says law and order has improved in UP due to the Yogi Adityanath government’s crackdown on criminals.
On the other hand, Afzal reminds the electorate of the bond between the Ansari family and the constituency. He also alludes to the ‘mysterious circumstances’ under which Mukhtar died.
The Ansaris also denounce the ‘don’t be a politician’ label on Mukhtar by trying to portray him as the voice of oppressed and marginalized parts of the region.
However, the voters of Ghazipur have several things in mind as they prepare for voting on June 1. Brajendra Prajapati, a marginal farmer and labourer, says rising prices of essential commodities would determine his voting habits. “I’m thinking about changing my voting preference from 2019,” he grins, without revealing his preference.
Riyaz, a student, acknowledges the many development projects in the constituency under Modi’s leadership, but says Afzal could benefit from the sympathy surrounding Mukhtar’s death.
For Ajay Gupta, a tea seller, he votes for the Prime Minister. “Candidate doesn’t matter much. People will vote for Modi.”
Add to that the Yogi Adityanath factor, especially his role in supposedly curbing anti-social elements.
The elimination of a number of gangsters in recent years has made the BJP rank and file hopeful of winning the seat.
The BJP is also banking on its pre-poll alliances with Apna Dal (Kameravadi) and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party to sway the non-Yadav OBCs in its favor in Ghazipur and other Purvanchal constituencies voting on June 1.
First print: May 31, 2024 | 12:11 pm IST