Former PM Chandra Shekhar s son Neeraj Shekhar is contesting the BJP s seat in Ballia for the first time, balancing his father s socialist roots with his party s nationalist leanings. Shekhar was elected to the Lok Sabha for eight terms from Ballia in 1977. The BJP has maintained relations with followers of Chandra Shekhar, who are considered extra votes for the party.
Old-timers and political pundits from the two UP districts recall how mafia-turned-politicians Mukhtar Ansari and Atiq Ahmed used to play an active role in deciding the fate of the candidates in fray
The Ansaris were a family of freedom fighters, diplomats and scholars of impeccable repute. Then came Mukhtar Ansari, one of UP’s most dreaded gangsters. Days after Mukhtar’s death in Banda jail, The Indian Express travels to the eastern UP town to map his terrain of terror and crime
Mukhtar Ansari, a notorious gangster-turned-politician in UP, was laid to rest peacefully in Ghazipur amid heavy security and thousands of mourners. | Latest News India