Ghazipur’s “Badka Phatak” is in charge of the Purvanchal seats
The ancestral home of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari in Ghazipur, known locally as “Badka Phatak” (large gate), used to be a major factor in the result of more than half a dozen Lok Sabha constituencies in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
It was believed that anybody running for a seat that fell within his sphere of influence would not succeed unless they went to “Badka Phatak” and sought Ansari’s blessings.
Politicians from outside the Bharatiya Janata Party flocked to “Badka Phatak” to mourn the five-time former MLA and offer their condolences to his grieving family, indicating the political importance of his passing. Top leaders of the Congress, BSP, and SP expressed skepticism about Mukhtar’s cause of death on social media and called for an investigation.
The deceased gangster, who was once associated with terror in Purvanchal and was the subject of over 60 criminal cases, is being expressed concern because of his influence over Muslim votes in districts like Ghazipur, Mau, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Varanasi, and Chandauli, where Muslims make up about 20% of the voter population.
According to political specialists, a letter from the criminal used to be enough to change the political dynamics in the areas under his domain.
The BJP would play directly opposite by highlighting the collapse of his empire of crime under the current regime, while the Opposition would attempt to capitalize on his demise by generating questions in order to attract Muslim votes.
Political analysts assert that Mukhtar formerly had power over candidates running for the Lok Sabha, all the way from the head of a village. His brother Afzal Ansari is running as an SP candidate after winning the Ghazipur seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha election on a BSP ticket. While his nephew Suhaib Ansari is the SP MLA from Mohammadabad in Ghazipur, his son Abbas Ansari won the Mau (Sadar) assembly seat in 2022 on the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party platform but as an SP candidate.
Mukhtar was crucial in assisting Mulayam Singh Yadav in securing the vote of confidence in the assembly in 2003, after the collapse of the Mayawati administration and the formation of the SP government.
He joined the BSP before to the 2009 Lok Sabha election in an attempt to run against Varanasi-born former Union minister Murli Manohar Joshi, however he was unsuccessful.
Mafia power in politics DON
In at least six districts in eastern Uttar Pradesh (Ghazipur, Mau, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Varanasi, Chandauli), Mukhtar Ansari had a majority of the Muslim votes.
His letters had the power to change the political landscape in the areas under his fief.
Mukhtar was crucial in helping Mulayam Singh Yadav win the assembly’s 2003 vote of confidence.
In 2022, Abbas Ansari, his son, was elected to the Mau (Sadar) assembly seat as an SP candidate albeit on an SBSP platform.
On a BSP ticket, his brother Afzal Ansari won the 2019 Ghazipur local elections. He is running for office again in 2024 on an SP ticket.
Ansari was buried next to her mother.
On Saturday, a sizable gathering flocked to the Ansaris’ ancestral home to offer their last respects and participate in the Namaz-e-Janaza for gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. His lifeless bones were transferred to the family’s ancient Ghazipur burial site, Kali Bagh, and interred next to his mother’s tomb.
Brother questions whether death is real.
Mukhtar Ansari’s brother Afzal Ansari claimed that his brother was poisoned to death, despite the autopsy report showing that he passed away from cardiac arrest. Even though Mukhtar was regularly passing out in prison, according to Afzal, he was not provided care in a timely manner.
