Contesting elections from jails is a tradition here. Even people do not mind electing leaders who are incarcerated facing criminal charges like murder. These leaders carry a Robinhood like image and being in jail is like a badge — which they do not mind wearing on their sleeves.
From Nautanwan — one of the remotest constituencies of eastern Uttar Pradesh in Maharajganj district bordering Nepal — tainted Amanmani Tripathi is contesting election as an Independent candidate after he was denied ticket by the Samajwadi Party. Amanmani is in jail for alleged murder of his wife Sara Singh.
Another 150 km south-east in Mau, gangster-cum-lawmaker Mukhtar Ansari is contesting election on a BSP ticket from Mau. He is also in jail for the last three years for the alleged killing of BJP leader Krishnand Rai.
Supporters of Mukhtar are vocal in saying that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has “victimised” him.
Professor Harsh Kumar of Gorakhpur University said, “lack of development and prevalent poverty in eastern UP has been a fertile ground for such political clout. When the system does not work, these leaders emerge as a parallel system and slowly acquire Robinhood image.”
These two leaders are cooling their heel in jails — far from the maddening election hustle and bustle in their constituencies which will go to polls on March 4. In their absence, their family members have held the fort.
For Amanmani Tripathi, his two sisters — Tanumani and Alankrita — are leading his election campaign.
“It is first time we are actively taking part in the election campaign because we have no one in family who can lead the campaign. All the family members are behind bar,” Tanu, who has done Master’s in International Studies and flew down from london to be part of this campaign, said.
Tanu’s father Amarmani and mother Madhumani are in jail for murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla. Amarmani has won election from Nautanwan five times but after his conviction he was barred from contesting election. He passed on the baton to his son Amanmani in 2012 — who lost the election by a small margin.
“Bhai (Amanmani) has been framed in false case. We are contesting it legally in court of law but here in people’s court we are getting tremendous response. People treat us as their sisters and are sympathetic towards our family,” said Alankrita, who is textile designer by profession.
Amanmani was arrested by CBI for alleged murder of his wife Sara Singh, who mysteriously died in a car accident. Sara’s mother Seema Singh had released a video a few days back asking voters not to elect her daughter’s murderer.
The passionate appeal that got over a lakh likes on Youtube had made both sisters nervous.
“The lady is full of drama. We have released a video of her ‘dabangayee’ to expose her,” Tanu said.
“We are fighting for the justice of our family. My brother is innocent and will come out unscathed,” she said.
Her words are making impact among people because this constituency has a history of leaders contesting elections from behind bars. Amarmani did it and before that Virendra Shahi too had won from this Assembly seat by contesting election from jail not once but twice.
“log yahan jehadi hai (People here have a revolutionary zeal). We stand for the victim. In our eyes Amanmani is a victim. He has been framned,” said Jheena Pradhan. “Contesting election from jail is no shame here, it is a badge of honour,” he said.
If it is Amanmani in Nautanwan, the story repeats in Mau where Mukhtar is contesting his second election from behind bars. Mukhtar’s cousin Salim, who is heading his campaign, said, “You go and find out from people whether Mukhtar bhai had helped them or not. There are hundreds of them who will tell you that they met Mukhtar in jail and after their meeting their work was done.”
“He is a political victim. Over a dozen criminal cases were slapped on him but he has been exonerated in all barring in Krishnanand Rai case. He will come out clean,” he said.
People around Salim nod their heads in appreciation. “last time too Mukhtar bhai contested election from jail and won and this time too he will win. There is no stopping over,” a person in the crowd said.