Back by community, slain gangster Anandpal Singh's mother to contest Rajasthan elections

The mother of dreaded gangster Anandpal Singh, who was killed in a police encounter, is set to contest the December 7 elections. Shri Ravana Rajput Samaj, the community to which the gangster belonged, has decided to field Nirmala Kanwar from Ladnu constituency in Nagaur.

The move might pose a fresh challenge to the ruling BJP that is already facing rising anger from the Rajputs.

The community, sources said, is lobbying for a Congress ticket for Kanwar. If that doesn't work out, it will likely project her as an independent candidate.

"We are considering fielding Nirmala Kanwar from Ladnu. In the event she is unable to contest the polls, his wife shall fight the polls against the BJP candidate," Ranjeet Singh Sodala, state president of Ravna Rajput Samaj, told DNA.

Anandpal was shot dead in an encounter in June 2017 when the police caught up with him after several months of chase.

The gangster had gave the cops the slip when he was being taken to Ajmer Central Jail after a court hearing.

While the police hunted him down, the action did not go down well with the Ravana Rajput community that still idolizes Anandpal. His cremation saw violent clashes between cops and locals in Sanwrad village resulting in the death of a civilian.

The police had registered cases against the protesters from the community that were promised to be withdrawn by the government under a pact. However, with the model code of conduct in force, the cases are still in pending. This has angered the community.