Ghaziabad: Expelled from SP, MLA Aman Mani Tripathi praises Modi, BJP

Expelled SP leader Aman Mani Tripathi praised PM Modi and the BJP for their recent victory in the UP polls

Expelled Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Aman Mani Tripathi, who recently won the Nautanwa seat as an independent candidate, showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president, Amit Shah, in Ghaziabad on Thursday.

Aman Mani Tripathi (centre), now Nautanwa MLA, is out on bail after he was arrested in connection with his wife’s death.(HT Photo)

Tripathi was in the city for a hearing in connection with the murder of his wife, Sara Singh. She was killed on July 9, 2015, in an allegedly fake road accident. After the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took up the case, it filed a chargesheet against Tripathi in February. During his arrest in connection with the case, he was lodged in Dasna jail.

“It is not just simple majority, but a major majority by the BJP (in the recent UP assembly elections). PM Modi and Amit Shah encouraged youngsters, which led to an increase in voting percentage. Their development works have also been impressive. I will work for the development of UP and my constituency, which has showered so much affection on me in these testing times,” Tripathi said.

Tripathi was to contest as a Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate from Nautanwa, but was expelled from the party. However, he contested as an independent and won. In his absence due to his arrest, his sisters carried out the campaign on his behalf.

When asked whether his praise for the PM and BJP leaders was because he was expelled from the SP and wanted to join the BJP, he said, “I am motivated by PM Modi who thought about the development of Gorakhpur fertiliser plant that will help in development and also provide employment to the youth in our area. My ticket (from SP) was not cancelled due to any one person, but due to the time I am going through. It (the recent election) is not SP’s loss, but that of ‘Ahankar’ (ego).”

Tripathi was recently granted bail by the Allahabad high court and was released from judicial custody in Dasna jail. He is the son of former UP minister, Amar Mani Tripathi, who has been associated with SP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) at various points in his political career.

Both Amar Mani and his wife Madhumani were awarded a life sentence in 2007 by a CBI court for murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla.