Abu Salem To Jump Into Mainstream Politics

In a move which could very well highlight the level of criminalization in India's political circles, underworld don and an accused in the 1993 serial Bombay blasts, Abu Salem is aspiring to enter politics by contesting from his home constituency of Azamgarh in the forthcoming UP assembly polls.

 According to experts, there is no bar on an accused contesting elections till convicted by the court. But it is important that the under trial’s name is there in the electoral roles of the state failing which, he cannot file his nomination papers.

Meanwhile Salem's lawyers have already filed an appeal in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court seeking permission to contest and campaign in the forthcoming Assembly polls.

This is not the first time the underworld has made an attempt to enter mainstream politics. Earlier Dawood Ibrahim's extradited younger brother, Iqbal Kaskar had filed his nomination papers from prison to contest elections from South Mumbai, but withdrew in the last minute.

As UP politics is largely based on caste and religion factors, it may not come as a surprise if  Abu Salem's new move would turn successful adding a new chapter in the dreaded Mumbai's don saga.