‘Mukhtar wasn’t like Atiq’: Gangs of Ghazipur and impact on UP polls

To gauge the pulse of Ghazipur, Another Election Show reached Saidpur Bhitar village of the eastern UP district. Ghazipur is represented in Parliament by Afzal Ansari, the elder brother of mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, whose death in prison was disputed by the Ansaris as “poisoining”.

The local sentiment is the polar opposite of Delhi media’s coverage portraying Mukhtar Ansari as a leader of a particular community and a gangster. Ansari and his brother are seen as messiahs for the poor.

Afzal Ansari, who left the BSP in 2019, is contesting on an SP ticket this time. He had defeated Manoj Sinha in the last Lok Sabha election, and this time, he is contesting against BJP’s Parasnath Rai.

We spoke to Afzal Ansari about the allegations against him. Meanwhile, local journalists told us what they think about Mukhtar Ansari’s gangster image.

Watch.

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