The change of guard in the ruling Samajwadi Party on Thursday took its first casualty when former MP and mafia don Atiq Ahmed said quits and declared that he will not contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
“I have been termed as mafia and goonda by media. If I contest election from Samajwadi Party I don’t want people should target Akhilesh Yadav. Hence I have decided not to contest the elections this time but will support the Samajwadi Party candidate,” he told reporters here on Thursday.
Atiq said that Akhilesh Yadav is a leader of clean image and I do not want people questioning him over his candidature. So, I have decided not to contest the polls so that no one questions SP and its leader, he said adding: “I don’t want division in the secular votes and will work to ensure victory for the SP candidates.”
Earlier it was reported that Atiq could contest as an Independent from Kanpur or Allahabad seat but now the announcement puts to rest about the political aspiration of the mafia turned politician of Allahabad.
The Mulayam camp had given ticket to Atiq from Kanpur Cantonment seat but the Akhilesh camp was not to eager to give him the ticket. But when Election Commission gave its ruling in favour of Akhilesh, all the hopes of Atiq shattered and now he took a decision not to contest the elections.
Atiq too met Akhilesh couple of times in the recent past but could not convince him to give him ticket from the party.
Atiq, had won Assembly elections as an independent five times from Allahabad (west ) seat and even won the Phulpur lok Sabha seat once.