Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections: Arif Aqeel - The undisputed sultan of Bhopal North

Updated Nov 24, 2018 | 10:53 IST | Times Now Digital

Aqeel won his first victory as a Member of Legislative Assembly in 1990 as an independent candidate.

Arif Aqeel
Arif Aqeel   |  Photo Credit: Twitter

Arif Aqeel is a political heavyweight as far as Madhya Pradesh politics is concerned and he has been consistently holding his own at Bhopal North, irrespective of his political affiliations.

He began his political career as a student leader while pursuing law. Aqeel instantly became popular through his activism, which led to his first victory as a Member of Legislative Assembly in 1990 as an independent candidate.

Things changed for Aqeel, like every other Muslim, after the 1993 Babri Masjid demolition and the subsequent riots. He was arrested for his alleged role in the riots. Later on, Aqeel fought the elections on a Janta Dal ticket but lost to a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate.

In the years that followed, Aqeel had to reconstruct his image after it took a beating as a 'communal leader'. Slowly and steadily, his efforts bore fruits when he won the 1998 elections, again from Bhopal North, but this time on a Congress ticket. Since then, it has been a jolly good ride for Aqeel with the Indian National Congress and he has held the fort at Bhopal North with all his might.

Aqeel has emerged as a pretty popular leader in his constituency, with people across religious factions rallying behind him. He is invincible in the Bhopal North seat and it will take a humongous effort for the Bharatiya Janata Party to oust someone who is looking to win his sixth term as a Member of Legislative Assembly.

 

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