How strong are the Ansari families in Purvanchal?
In terms of lok sabha seats, the Ansari family has a lot of dominance in Ghoshi, varanasi and Ghazipur seats. In 2009, Mukhtar Ansari got 1.85 lakh votes on varanasi seat. In 2014 too, Mukhtar had announced to contest from varanasi seat, but backed out at the last moment.
Mukhtar has contested from Ghoshi seat in 2014. He got 1.66 lakh votes and was at number three. Mau has 4 seats and Ballia has one seat in GhoshiLok Sabha. Mukhtar's brother Afzal had won from Ghazipur seat in 2019.
Afzal has also been an mp from Ghazipur seat from 2004 to 2009. In 2019, he defeated Manoj Sinha, who was a minister in the Modi government. The traditional Mohammadabad seat of the Mukhtar family comes inside the Ballia lok sabha, so the Ansari family plays an important role in deciding the equation here.
Then why did politicians become 'untouchable'?
Veterans out of the election race – Mukhtar Ansari and afzal ansari were popular among the people in the Ansari family. Along with winning their election, they used to benefit the respective parties in other seats as well, but now the scenario has changed.Mukhtar and Afzal have been punished by the court, due to which the suspense remains on their contesting the elections. In such a situation, there is no face left in the Ansari family to win the election. Both Afzal and Mukhtar are currently in jail, so the parties will not be able to get any benefit from them.
Any person from the Mukhtar family is now eligible to contest elections or is out of jail. His hold among the people is not very strong. However, there is talk of Afzal's daughter contesting in the event of elections on the Ghazipur seat.
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