Mukhtar Ansari's shooter son aims to achieve double target in UP

An ace shooter and son of jailed don Mukhtar Ansari, Abbas Ansari has to achieve two targets to hit at once -- clinch the Ghosi Assembly seat as well as garner votes from Muslim community in the eastern Uttar Pradesh.

 The 25-year-old son of jailed don Mukhtar Ansari is contesting from Ghosi as the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate and is confident of victory riding the crest of the work done by his father in the region.

 Abbas, who is making his debut in the battle of ballots, wants to enter the portals of the UP Vidhan Bhawan as the youngest legislator. "I am sure I will win the elections. My dad has done a lot for the people here despite being in jail," he told.

In an interview. Abbas, who is crossing swords with Fagu Singh Chouhan ofBJP and Sudhakar Singh of SP, says he is getting support of all the communities -- be it Hindus, Muslims, Backwards orSCs.

"We never discriminate on caste and creed. Whosoever comes to us, we help them," he said. Abbas recently visited a temple, a move which raised eyebrows of ulemas (Muslim scholars).

Asked to comment on his temple visit, he said, "I don't let anyone dictate anything to me. I do what I think is right.Hundreds of Hindus vote for my father because he helped them in their worst times.

They remain with us always so do we." Abbas, who is a four-time national shooting champion, plunged into electoral politics to take forward the family legacy.

"Public service flows in my blood. My family has been in politics. My great grandfather, Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, was president of the Indian National Congress and the MuslimLeague during India's freedom struggle.

My uncles - AfzalAnsari (former MP) and Sibgatullah Ansari (MLA) are active politicians," he elaborated. While his father Mukhtar, facing murder charges, is contesting from Mau in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Abbas is testing his popularity in Ghosi. Sibagatullah is the BSP candidate from Mohammadabad.

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