While “don-turned politician” Mukhtar Ansari is contesting in the second phase of the UP Assembly election on the banner of his newly formed Qaumi Ekta Dal from Mau and Ghosi Assembly seats, Hari Shankar Tiwari, another “don-turned-politician”, has opted for his traditional Chillupar seat as an Independent. Mukhtar Ansari has been in jail since 2005 on charges in connection with the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai and his brother and sons are campaigning for him in both constituencies. This is the second election that Ansari is contesting from prison.
A Bhojpuri actress and TV star, Kajal Nishad, is adding a dash to glamour. She is the Congress candidate from Gorakhpur. Kajal, who belongs to Gujarat, is married into a Nishad family in Belipar and is projecting herself as the daughter-in-law of Purvanchal.