Now the campaign has gained full momentum in Bihar Assembly elections. At some places there are big road shows of leaders and at other places convoys of vehicles worth crores are being seen, but amidst all this, a candidate is attracting everyone’s attention, who has neither wealth nor influence. The name is Qayamuddin Ansari, CPI-ML (CPI-ML) candidate of Grand Alliance from Arrah Assembly seat. He is also being called the ‘poorest candidate’ of Bihar Assembly elections 2025.
Simplicity became the center of discussion
50 year old Qayamuddin Ansari has done MA in Urdu from MHD Jain College, Arrah. He is Ansari (weaver) by caste, that is, he comes from the extremely backward class. He has contested elections from Arrah twice before. In the year 2020, he lost to BJP’s Amarendra Pratap Singh by only 3,002 votes, but his struggle and simplicity was in the news in that election.
no land, no business
This time too Qayamuddin is in the fray, but the situation is more difficult. He neither has any property nor any business. His wife Khushbu is an Anganwadi worker and this is the only regular income of their family. He has stated his income in the affidavit. He has only Rs 20 thousand in cash and Rs 5 thousand in his bank account. They live in a small house.
Donation from public, campaign on bicycle
Qayamuddin was asked that how to campaign when there is no money? So he clearly said – public trust. They are going from village to village and collecting small donations from people. Some give Rs 50, some give Rs 100. With this money they get posters printed and are meeting people from door to door sitting on a bicycle.
‘People’s candidate’ among big names
There are veteran candidates like BJP’s Sanjay Singh Tiger and Jan Suraj’s Dr. Vijay Kumar Gupta in front of him on Ara seat, but Qayamuddin’s honesty and simplicity has made a place in the hearts of the people.
