Lok Sabha Election: Father-Daughter Duo in Ghazipur; Afzal Ansari's Symbol is Bicycle, Nusrat Gets Rajbhar's Cane

This time's Lok Sabha elections are seeing fierce competition in many seats of Purvanchal. Following the death of the formidable former MLA Mukhtar Ansari, the Ansari family is striving to assert its strength in the Ghazipur Lok Sabha constituency. Interestingly, Mukhtar's elder brother Afzal Ansari and his daughter Nusrat have both filed nominations for this seat. With the withdrawal deadline passing on Friday, election symbols have been allotted to all candidates in Ghazipur.

Afzal Ansari is contesting on a Samajwadi Party ticket, campaigning under the bicycle symbol. On the other hand, his daughter Nusrat has been assigned the cane symbol. It's noteworthy that the candidates of Subhaspa chief Om Prakash Rajbhar's party also contest under the cane symbol. In the neighboring Ghosi Lok Sabha seat, Rajbhar's son Arvind Rajbhar is in the fray with the same symbol. O.P. Rajbhar himself won the Zahoorabad assembly seat in Ghazipur with this symbol in the last assembly election. Rajbhar's party has no candidate in the Ghazipur Lok Sabha constituency.

All Eyes on Allahabad High Court Decision

Afzal Ansari and his daughter Nusrat filed nominations for the Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat as part of a special strategy. Afzal Ansari was sentenced to four years in a gangster case, and the Supreme Court temporarily stayed this sentence. The Supreme Court directed the Allahabad High Court to decide the matter by June 30. The next hearing in the Allahabad High Court is scheduled for May 20. The state government and Krishna Nand Rai's son have appealed in the High Court, demanding an increase in Afzal's sentence.

If the High Court rules against Afzal Ansari, he will not be able to contest the Lok Sabha election. This is why the Ansari family has ensured Nusrat's nomination as a backup plan. Analysts suggest that if the High Court does not provide relief to Afzal Ansari, the Ansari family will fully support Nusrat's candidacy.

Afzal Ansari’s Strategy

Nusrat has been quite active in the Ghazipur Lok Sabha election campaign. Recently, Afzal Ansari introduced Nusrat to alliance leaders at the party office, clarifying that if the High Court does not grant him relief, Nusrat will be the alliance candidate. Consequently, Nusrat did not withdraw her nomination on the last day, Friday.

Initially, the Samajwadi Party allotted the bicycle symbol to both Afzal and Nusrat. However, after the High Court deferred its decision to May 20, Nusrat’s nomination as a Samajwadi Party candidate was canceled. She is now contesting as an independent candidate. The decision of the High Court on May 20 is eagerly awaited. If the decision is not in Afzal Ansari’s favor, the Samajwadi Party might officially support Nusrat. Conversely, if the decision favors Afzal Ansari, Nusrat might withdraw from the race.

Tough Competition from BJP and BSP

The Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat will go to polls in the last phase on June 1, but the electoral picture remains unclear. All eyes are on the Allahabad High Court's decision, which will reveal the true picture of this Lok Sabha constituency.

From the BJP, Parasnath Rai is contesting this seat, while Dr. Umesh Kumar Singh is challenging from the Bahujan Samaj Party. Both opponents allege that due to his legal troubles, Afzal Ansari has neglected the region over the past five years. They have opened a front against him on this issue.