Mafia don Atiq Ahmed pulls out from UP polls contest

Lucknow: The change of guard in the ruling Samajwadi Party seems to have taken its first casualty. Former MP and mafia don Atiq Ahmed today withdrew from the contest in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. "I have been termed mafia and goonda by media and don't want that people should target Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav if I am given ticket by the party now.

Hence, I have decided not to contest the elections this time but will support the Samajwadi Party candidate where they want," he said. "I don't want division in the secular votes and will work for the win of the SP candidates," Mr Ahmed added. Talking to reporters here, he said, 'Mr Yadav is a leader of clean image and he himself has decided not to contest the polls so that no one questions SP and its leader.' Earlier, it was reported that Mr Ahmed could contest as an Independent from Kanpur or Allahabad seat. The Mulayam Singh Yadav camp had given ticket to Mr Ahmed from Kanpur Cantonment constituency but the Akhilesh camp was not so eager to field him.

When the Election Commission gave its ruling in favour of the Akhilesh faction, all aspirations of Mr Ahmed were shattered and he took a decision not to contest the elections. Mr Ahmed, too, met Akhilesh a couple of times in the recent past but could not convince him to give him the ticket from the party. Victor in assembly elections as an Independent five times from Allahabad(west), Mr Ahmed had even won the Phulpur Lok Sabha seat once. (UNI)