It's double trouble for Amarmani in UP elections

Maharajganj, UP, May 4 (UNI) It is a twin trouble confronting Amarmani Tripathi, the main accused in the sensational Madhumita Shukla murder case, in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

On the one hand, he has been languishing in jail for the murder of the former Hindi poetess, and on the other her family is sparing no effort to bring his misdeeds to the notice of the electorate of the Laxmipur assembly constituency from where he is testing his political fortunes.

Amarmani, currently lodged in Dehra Dun jail, is the ruling Samajwadi Party candidate from the eastern UP seat in the seventh phase on May 8 and is already having a tough time. As it was not enough, Madhumita Shukla's mother and sister are rubbing salt to his wounds by campaigning door-to-door against him.

Mother-daughter duo of Shanti Shukla and Nidhi Shukla has declared a war on the accused in the murder case saying they were on a ''defeat Amarmani mission.'' They say many parties have approached them asking for support but both desired to see Amarmani voted out this time.

Both are enganged in intensifying the campaign asking voters to vote for the candidate with clean image.

''Amarmani is in Dehra Dun jail and how can he help you in need'' is their punch line during the campaign.

The former UP Minister and three time legislator from the seat, last time in 2002 on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket, in fact has announced not to seek permission from the Court to campaign. He is relying upon his supporters to use his recorded speech in the constituency.

The Madhumita murder accused is also at a disadvantage of being away from the public for last many months after having been charged with murder by the CBI. The general decline in the ruling party's graph, again puts him in a losing lane.

Amarmani, the product of criminalisation of politics in UP in 1980s, has won the seat thrice in 1989 and 1996 on Congress ticket and then in 2002 on BSP symbol. SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav turned to his help when he was expelled from BSP by Ms Mayawati and decided to field him from his old seat. Tripathi has been under the tutelage of Harishakar Tiwari, the mafia-turned legislator of this part of the state.

He, in fact, had filed the nomination after seeking permission from the Supreme Court and his campaign was being looked after by his uncle Shyam Narain, a minister in the Mulayam Singh government and also the SP candidate from adjacent assembly seat of Pharenda.

Shyam Narain is also in the tough spot himself being uncomfortable in his constituency with added onus of running the campaign of his nephew.

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