Abu Salem wants to contest UP Assembly elections

Lucknow, Sep 4 (UNI) Dreaded don Abu Salem, who was extradited from Portugal, is keen to contest Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh from his home constituency of Mubarakpur in Azamgarh district.

The elections in the state are due early next year.

Salem is facing trial in the March, 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

The don has already conveyed his wish to enter the political fray to prove his innocence in criminal activities and has asked his family members to launch a low-profile campaign.

All national political parties have been approached by the don to give him a ticket. But the issue was yet to materialise.

Salem's counsel Harjot Singh here confirmed to UNI the don's decision to contest the assembly elections from Mubarakpur seat.

''It would be an effort by the don to go before the masses in his hometown to prove his innocence,'' the counsel said.

Mohammad Rashid Ansari, another close confidante of the don and another of his counsels, too maintained that the family members have been asked to prepare for the coming polls.

Abudullah, nephew of Abu, said he has been asked by his uncle during his recent visit to Aurther Road Jail to prepare the groundwork.

He said if Salem contests the elections, it would be very hard for the candidates of other parties.

Though the family members of the don have shifted to Saraimeerm, Mubarakpur remains his hometown. The constituency has a large number of Ansaris, with 20 per cent of the voters belonging to the Muslim community.

Interestingly, people of Azamgarh, particularly the Muslims, feel that Abu had only gone to Mumbai to be part of the booming Bollywood.

Salem was extradited from Protugal on November 11, 2005 and has been lodged in the Auther Road jail. Altogether, eight cases were pending against him of which, three each are in Mumbai and Delhi and one each in Hyderabad and Lucknow.

Abu has been charged with supply of arms and explosives to carry out the Mumbai blasts which had killed over 200 innocents.

UNI MB NAB AK KN1710