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Mayawati says no ticket for jailed Mukhtar Ansari, Owaisi's AIMIM welcomes him

Hectic political activity is underway in Uttar Pradesh which is headed for assembly elections in 2022. However, the trend of politicians facing criminal cases being granted election tickets continues.

UP Election 2022 Mayawati says no ticket for jailed Mukhtar Ansari, Owaisi AIMIM welcomes him VPN
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Lucknow, First Published Sep 10, 2021, 4:57 PM IST

Hectic political activity is underway in Uttar Pradesh which is headed for assembly elections in 2022. However, the trend of politicians facing criminal cases being granted election tickets continues.

Take the case of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who is currently in the Banda jail.

On Friday morning, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati sought to send out a strong message that the party will not field 'Bahubali' (strongmen) those facing criminal cases tickets for the 2022 elections. 

She announced that Mukhtar Ansari would not be given a ticket from the Mau assembly seat again. Instead, state president Bheem Rajbhar will contest the upcoming Assembly elections from the seat.

However, hours later, news emerged that Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen was offering a ticket to Ansari.

AIMIM national spokesperson Syed Asim Waqar said that not only were the party's doors open for Ansari, but the party would even ensure his victory if he were to contest on the party's ticket.

Mukhar Ansari is facing trial in over 50 criminal cases which include murder and kidnapping. Fifteen cases have gone into the trial. 

Ansari has been shifted across jails in Uttar Pradesh during the course of his trials since 2005. Recently, he was transferred from Punjab, where he was jailed for extortion, back to prison in Uttar Pradesh.

The AIMIM justifies enrolling in leaders with criminal records on the grounds that the Bharatiya Janata Party has such leaders in its fold as well. 

However, the real reason, according to experts, seems to be the AIMIM's desire to capitalise on the clout of such leaders and make a mark in the Uttar Pradesh election.

Just days ago, Asaduddin Owaisi inducted jailed gangster and former MP Atiq Ahmad and his wife into the AIMIM. Atiq joined the new party in absentia.

Also Read: Catholic Bishop's 'love jihad' and 'narco jihad' claims trigger political storm in Kerala

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