UP polls: Rajbhar dubs don-turned-neta Mukhtar Ansari 'messiah of poor' following BSP snub

After ally AIMIM offered an election ticket to don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar described him as "messiah" of poor. A Minister in Yogi ityanath-led government until 2019, Rajbhar is currently leing 10-party 'Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha' which also includes Asuddin Owaisi's AIMIM, Apna Dal faction of Krishna Patel, Rashtroday Party, Rashtriya Bhagidari Party, Janta Kranti Party among ors. Speaking to media on sidelines of a party workers' convention on September 11, he highlighted Ansari's political stature in Purvanchal region.

SBSP president Om Prakash Rajbhar remarked, "Wher it is a BJP, SP, BSP, or Congress leer in Purvanchal, whoever wants to win election goes and seeks blessings from Mukhtar Ansari. He wins election only after that. poor, underprivileged and leers re consider him as a messiah.

Weighing in on BSP supremo Mayawati's anuncement denying him a party ticket, he said, "What big leers say is ir prerogative. When Mukhtar Ansari joined BSP at one point in time, Mayawati Ji said that he is messiah of poor. I am repeating Mayawati's words. More than half of MPs in Lok Sabha and state Assembly are criminals. Many people are pointing fingers against him because he is a Muslim. BJP, Congress and BSP should introspect."

BSP's drive against criminalization of politics

Currently languishing in Banda jail, Mukhtar Ansari is a 5-time MLA from Mau constituency and faces more than 50 criminal cases t just in UP but or states as well. In a big anuncement of September 10, Mayawati declared that mafia don including Ansari will be fielded in 2022 Uttar Presh Assembly election signalling her intent to counter  criminalization of politics. She contended that this decision will ensure that a crackdown on such criminals can be initiated once a BSP government is formed in state. Moreover, she revealed that UP BSP president Bhim Rajbhar will be party's candidate in Mau.

Incidentally, former UP CM's decision came days after Mukhtar Ansari's bror Sigbatullah joined Samajwi Party in presence of Akhilesh Yav. While Sigbatullah Ansari is a former MLA from Mohammab, ir or bror Afzal Ansari is a BSP MP from Ghazipur Lok Sabha constituency. After all Ansari brors were expelled from BSP in 2010, y formed Quami Ekta Dal which later merged into Mayawati-led party ahe of 2017 Assembly polls.