Pinterest/The Personage
Jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died on Thursday after he suffered a heart attack in Uttar Pradesh's Banda. Mukhtar Ansari had over 60 cases pending against him and he was lodged in Banda district jail. He was born into a family with deep roots in India's freedom struggle. Despite the noble legacy, Mukhtar Ansari chose a path markedly different.
Mukhtar Ansari's father was active in politics and was a leader with a very good name. Mukhtar Ansari's grandfather Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari was a freedom fighter. Mukhtar's grandfather was also the President of Congress in 1926-27. He also worked with Mahatma Gandhi. Not only this, Mukhtar Ansari's maternal grandfather Brigadier Mohammad Usman was given the army's bravery award Mahavir Chakra. He was martyred in the 1947 war. Hamid Ali Ansari, the former Vice President of the country, is also a relative of Mukhtar Ansari.
Despite such a rich heritage, Mukhtar Ansari's steps moved towards the world of crime, and it moved so far that Mukhtar was widely spoken of in a large part of UP. The story of Mukhtar Ansari's crimes started from his college days. It is said that Mukhtar's criminal life started with joining Sadhu Singh's gang.
Mukhtar Ansari was active in politics along with his criminal image. Mukhtar won from Mau assembly constituency for the first time in 1996 on BSP ticket. After this he remained MLA 5 times till 2017. Mukhtar fought three elections while in jail and also won.
In 2002, BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai was murdered. In this massacre, 500 rounds were fired at the MLA's car. All seven people including the MLA died in this incident. Mukhtar Ansari's name came up in this case. Actually, Krishnanand Rai had won the Mohammadabad assembly seat of Ghazipur.This seat was with the Ansari family since 1985. Krishnanand Rai's victory upset Mukhtar Ansari. It was alleged that after this Mukhtar got Krishnanand Rai murdered. After this, Mukhtar's troubles continued to increase. He continued contesting elections, but remained in jail continuously.
