AZAMGARH: While all political parties in fray in UP making hue and cry over the law and order situation in the state, "bahubalis", with long lists of criminal cases, including heinous crimes like murders, are dominating the poll scene in Azamgarh parliamentary seat. In fact two of the bahubalis fielded by the BSP have eight cases each of murder registered against him.While three bahubalis are themselves in fray here, another has fielded his son, who too incidentally has criminal cases registered against him. With the writ of these four bahubalis, two from BSP and one each from BJP and SP, running large in the Azamgarh area, they are likely to influence the outcome of the polls on all the 10 assembly seats falling in this parliamentary constituency.The Azamgarh Sadar seat is set to witness a direct clash between the bahubalis of BSP, Bhupendra Singh alias Munna, and SP's sitting MLA and minister, Durga Prasad Yadav. While Munna is a declared "history sheeter" in Bardah police station and has 31 cases against him, including that of Arms, Gangster and Goonda Act and attempt to murder, 64-year-old and seven times MLA, Durga Prasad is a "history sheeter" in Kotwali police station, with 16 cases registered against him under various sections of IPC including dacoity, and murder. Both have been acquitted in some of cases but still have several pending against them.Munna had joined the BSP recently. He had contested election in 2012 from Ulema Council . The BJP has fielded Akhilesh Mishra Guddu from this constituency.The BSP candidate from Atraulia, 41-year-old, Akhand Pratap Singh, is also a declared "history sheeter" of Tarwan police station, with 31 cases registered against him including eight of murder. Cases under the Arms and Gangster Act, and loot have been also registered against him. He's pitted against SP's sitting MLA, Sangram Yadav, son of cabinet minister, Balram Yadav and BJP's, Kanhaiya Lal Nishad.The BJP has fielded Arun Yadav , son of the famed bahubali and former MP, Azamgarh, Rama Kant Yadav, from Phoolpur Pawai constituency. While Rama Kant Yadav has a long criminal record, his 32-year-old son too has two criminal cases of attempt to murder and one with SC/ST Act registered against him.Arun Yadav is pitted against SP MLA, Shyam Bahadur Yadav, and BSP's, Abul Qais Azmi.Dr Sujeet kumar Srivastava, asst Professor of Political Science, DAVPG College, Azamgarh, said the approach of all political parties is to win the elections "by hook or crook" and they are not bothered about the taint of their candidates. "Political parties need candidates who can exert their influence ('dabdaba'), not only on their own seats but others too, and can spend money for the polls", he said adding that all the talk of welfare and up-liftment of the downtrodden is a farce.Dr Poonam Tewari, a social worker, said its ironical that while political parties try to make law and order a poll issue and themselves field candidates who are responsible for the lawlessness in the state. "Will these people, who are declared history sheeters, with long list of criminal records, be able to provide security to women", she questioned.Talking to TOI, SP district president of Azamgarh, Hawaldar Yadav, said the criminal cases registered against Durga Prasad Yadav are old and related to some family dispute. He said since he has become a MLA, no case had been registered against him.Accusing the BSP of fielding Bahubalis, Hawaldar Yadav said, "our party leader, Akhilesh Yadav , had taken the initiative of not giving tickets to any person with criminal history background and denial of seat to Mukhtar Ansari is an example of his conviction." He said its unfortunate that parties like the BJP and the BSP were fielding people with shady backgrounds.BJP district president, Prem Prakash Rai, admitted that one of their candidate has a criminal record but defended on the plea that they could have been registered in "self defence". He said other parties, specially the BSP has been putting people with criminal backgrounds to win the polls by hook or by crook.

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