No intention to contest polls: Abu Salem

Jailed underworld don Abu Salem today said that he has no intention of entering politics or contesting elections.

"I have no such intention," Salem said when asked about his possibility of making foray into politics.

He was brought to Azamgarh yesterday from Mumbai to enable him attend the last rites of his aunt at his native place Sarameer.

During the 2007 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, posters of Salem had said that he was contesting elections from Mubarakpur but he could not contest as his name was not included in the electoral rolls.

However, the don's brother Abu Jaish said he wanted to contest Assembly polls from Mubarakpur constituency.

Jiash told reporters that he has requested SP to give him ticket from Mubarakpur.

Salem said that he was thankful to TADA court in Mumbai to allow him to visit Azamgarh and attend last rites of his aunt Shaakira Begum.

Meanwhile Salem's counsel Rashid Ansari, who is fighting the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, expressed hope that cases pending against the don in various courts in Lucknow, Mumbai and Hyderabad would be decided in six to eight months.