It’s official: Ex-minister’s widow is now SP nominee

Rajmati’s decision to contest on an SP ticket comes as a relief for the party leadership,which intends to woo Nishads (fishermen) who have considerable presence in various Assembly seats of the Gorakhpur region.

Jamuna Prasad Nishad,who was jailed following his alleged involvement in the murder of a police constable in June 2008,was a prominent leader of the Nishad community in eastern UP.

He had also spent a part of his political career in the Samajwadi Party. He first won Assembly elections in 2007 and subsequently became the fisheries minister.

However,his alleged involvement in the murder case led to his exit from the Mayawati government.

Despite Jamuna’s exit from the Mayawati Cabinet,the ruling BSP spared no efforts to keep his family members in good humour. Jamuna’s brother Ganga Nishad was made chairman of Awas Bandhu and was given the status of a minister of state. Later,Ganga was removed from his post but subsequently,Rajmati was made a member of the state’s Women Commission.

Though the BSP has decided to stay away from bypolls in the run-up to 2012 Assembly elections,the party plans to back one Jitendra Nishad,who was defeated by Jamuna in the last Assembly elections.

When contacted,Jitendra,who joined the BSP during the 2009 Lok Sabha polls,confirmed that he would file his nomination papers as an Independent but said he had no idea about the BSP support for him.

Congress sources said the state unit had given two options to its high-command in Delhi – either to support Rajmati or field a party candidate from the list of names sent by it. “UPCC is hopeful that the high-command would apprise it of its decision about Pipraich bypolls by Tuesday evening,” a source said.

The BJP has fielded one Radheshayam Singh,who belongs to OBC category.