Candidates with criminal records bite the dust in UP polls

The growing frustration of people against criminal elements in politics has manifested itself in the Uttar Pradesh elections, where several such candidates losing by big margins.

Prominent among those with criminal records who were vanquished in the polls are DP Yadav, Atiq Ahmad, Brajesh Singh, Abhay Singh, Madan Bhaiyya and Munna Bajrangi.

However, strongmen like Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya, Mitrasen Yadav and Akhilesh Kumar Singh, who too face criminal charges, have won again this time.

DP Yadav, whose son Vikas Yadav is serving a sentence for the murder of Nitish Katara, was in the news recently when his attempt to join the Samajwadi Party was thwarted by Akhilesh Yadav. He contested from Sahaswan constituency on a Rashtriya Parivartan Dal but stood third.

Pooja Pal, the BSP candidate from Allahabad (West) had sweet revenge against mafia don Atiq Ahmad (Apna Dal) when she defeated him in the elections. Ahmad's men had allegedly killed her husband Raju Pal in a brutal manner a few days after her marriage.

Prem Prakash Singh alias Munna Bajrangi, who is incarcerated in Tihar jail for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, contested on Apna Dal ticket from Mariyahu constituency in Jaunpur but stood third.

Mukhtar Ansari, accused of being a co-conspriator with Bajrangi, has several criminal cases including that of murder against him. He lost from Ghosi where he came third but won the Mau seat.

BJP had given a ticket with much fanfare to Bhadshah Singh, who was thrown out of the Cabinet by Chief Minister Mayawati after he was named by the UP Lokayukta in cases of financial wrongdoing. He came fourth in Mahoba seat. Raj Narain alias Rajju of BSP won the seat.

Arun Kumar Singh alias Brajesh Singh, a sworn enemy of Mukhtar Ansari and Bajrangi, had gone underground for several months before being arrested from a mall in Orissa. He contested from Saiyadraja seat but lost to an Independent candidate. Singh has 39 criminal cases against him, including 25 related to murder.

Harishankar Tiwari, a don who turned to politics and has been a minister in UP, lost from his stronghold of Chillupar.

Yash Bhadra Singh alias Sonu (Peace Party), arrested in the murder case of Sant Gyaneshwar, was defeated by Abrar Ahmed of SP from the Isauli constituency.

Madan Bhaiyya, a history sheeter turned politician, also lost the polls from Loni constituency. He contested on a RLD ticket and lost to Zakir Ali of BSP.

Sachidanand Sakshi alias Sakshi Maharaj, the BJP candidate from Bhogaon seat, came fourth. He has been jailed in Tihar in cases of rape and sexual assault.

Some of the candidates, who are kin of tainted leaders, also lost out.

Amanmani Tripathi, son of Amarmani Tripathi- convicted for the murder of poetess Madhumita, was defeated from Nautanwa constituency.