In Ansari’s Mohammadabad, a fight for justice

Last February, Alka had won the seat in bypolls held after the BJP MLA and six supporters were gunned down on November 29, 2005. The Ansari brothers have been in jail since. The Election Commission had recently got the duo shifted to Jhansi from Ghazipur jail.

“Ham bhi insaaf mang rahe hain,” Sibakatullah says, suggesting that his brothers were paying the price for their “war against feudal forces”. “A major part of this constituency is yet to be freed from the clutches of feudal forces. This is a battle between the exploiters and the oppressed. Mukhtar is a popular leader of the oppressed and thus he is the target,” Sibakatullah explains. The constituency has a considerable presence of upper caste Bhumihars.

Sibakatullah is also unhappy with the EC. “The Commission has two different parameters. While Sushil Singh, who contested elections in Mirzapur district, is still in Mirzapur jail, my brothers have been shifted to Jhansi,” he adds. Sushil Singh is the nephew of dreaded don Brajesh Singh.

On the contrary, Alka scoffs at Sibakatullah seeking a mandate against the “injustice”. “No one can muster the courage to speak out against Ansari’s terror. I do not fear him. But I have taken a vow to end the terror unleashed by him,” the 47-year-old told The Indian Express while campaigning in Charkha Ka Purva village. The village was home to Shesh Nath Patel, who was among those killed in the November 29 shootout.

Alka blames the Mulayam government for patronising criminals. “Even my husband’s killing was a result of state-sponsored crime. The government had withdrawn his gunners a few months before,” Alka adds.

Infrastructure is a major problem in the constituency. The 15-km-long road from Jagdishpur to Alka’s native village of Gadaur has just boulders. “My rivals are obstructing development of the area. Contractors under their patronage have managed to bag all the tenders,” she replies when asked about the state of the roads in her constituency.

Meanwhile, both camps blame each other for intimidating voters. “Alka and company have been warning voters who belong to the weaker sections no to go to vote,” Sibakatullah said. Alka counters: “Criminals from different places have camped in Mohammadabad. They threaten voters to stay away from the booths on polling day.”

The voters too are not ready to speak out against either candidate. “Brother, this is a real battlefield. The voters are divided along caste line. Violence has been a remained integrated part of all past elections. You better talk to somebody else,” says Ramn Sanehi, a local vendor.