VARANASI: Kinnars have intensified efforts to increase voter turnout in UP’s Ghosi Lok Sabha seat, a mafia dons’ land which witnessed below 60% polling in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.
“When I met kinnars to understand issues of transgenders and encourage them to register as voters, they volunteered to launch a campaign to raise awareness about voting rights.It was coincidental,” said Praveen Mishra, Mau’s DM and district election officer.
Ghosi, the constituency of Atul Rai, who was jailed on rape charges shortly after winning the 2019 elections as an absconder, is also home to jailed mafia-don Mukhtar Ansari.
Mau Kinnars’ Union president Hena Qureshi explained the motivation behind their campaign. “Over the past six or seven years, we’ve witnessed positive governance. We’ve benefited from schemes like old age homes, Ayushman Bharat health facilities and toilets. We also feel safer. With govt taking care of us, we wanted to give back. When the DM appealed to us to register as voters, we expressed our desire to work towards voter awareness and strengthen democracy,” said Qureshi.
Khushbu, Qureshi’s disciple, elaborated, “Attracting crowds is easy for us. When we perform dances at clients’ homes for celebratory events, large numbers gather. During Holi celebrations, such gatherings were evident. After each performance, we urged people to exercise their franchise.”
The community plans to hold more awareness events, including rallies and door-to-door campaigns, to educate people about the importance of voting, said Khushbu.
Ghosi was a Bhumihar stronghold until the dominance of four-time MP and former Union minister Kalpnath Rai ended in 1998. Since then, Chauhan and Rajbhar vote banks have become significant factors, with jailed mafia-don and four-time MLA from Mau Sadar, Mukhtar Ansari, and his family wielding considerable influence. Ghosi also witnessed the rise of another strongman politician, Atul Rai, who spent most of his time in jail despite winning the seat.
“When I met kinnars to understand issues of transgenders and encourage them to register as voters, they volunteered to launch a campaign to raise awareness about voting rights.It was coincidental,” said Praveen Mishra, Mau’s DM and district election officer.
Ghosi, the constituency of Atul Rai, who was jailed on rape charges shortly after winning the 2019 elections as an absconder, is also home to jailed mafia-don Mukhtar Ansari.
Mau Kinnars’ Union president Hena Qureshi explained the motivation behind their campaign. “Over the past six or seven years, we’ve witnessed positive governance. We’ve benefited from schemes like old age homes, Ayushman Bharat health facilities and toilets. We also feel safer. With govt taking care of us, we wanted to give back. When the DM appealed to us to register as voters, we expressed our desire to work towards voter awareness and strengthen democracy,” said Qureshi.
Khushbu, Qureshi’s disciple, elaborated, “Attracting crowds is easy for us. When we perform dances at clients’ homes for celebratory events, large numbers gather. During Holi celebrations, such gatherings were evident. After each performance, we urged people to exercise their franchise.”
The community plans to hold more awareness events, including rallies and door-to-door campaigns, to educate people about the importance of voting, said Khushbu.
Ghosi was a Bhumihar stronghold until the dominance of four-time MP and former Union minister Kalpnath Rai ended in 1998. Since then, Chauhan and Rajbhar vote banks have become significant factors, with jailed mafia-don and four-time MLA from Mau Sadar, Mukhtar Ansari, and his family wielding considerable influence. Ghosi also witnessed the rise of another strongman politician, Atul Rai, who spent most of his time in jail despite winning the seat.
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