Imran Masood Chosen by Congress for Saharanpur Seat

Imran Masood (photo:ANI)

Asif Iqbal | March 30, 2024 | 02:53 PM IST | India, Politics, Uttar Pradesh | Follow on Google News

Imran Masood Chosen by Congress for Saharanpur Seat

Imran Masood Chosen by Congress for Saharanpur Seat

The Congress has once again fielded Imran Masood from the Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat in western Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Masood, a prominent Muslim leader, has previously contested from Saharanpur twice as a Congress candidate. However, he failed to win on both occasions.

Early Life and Political Career

1. Imran Masood was born on April 21, 1971, to Rashid Masood in Gangoh, Uttar Pradesh. He is the nephew of former Union minister Rasheed Masood. In his 15 years in politics, Imran Masood has worked in the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, and now back in Congress.
2. He ventured into politics in 2006 and was elected the chairman of the Saharanpur municipal council. Just a year later, he won from the Muzaffarabad seat in his first Assembly elections as an Independent candidate. In 2012, Mr. Masood contested the elections from the Nakur constituency and was defeated by BSP’s Dharam Singh Saini.

Controversial Statements and Electoral Setbacks

3. Ahead of the 2014 general elections, Imran Masood caused a huge controversy after he threatened to “chop Narendra Modi into pieces”. He was arrested for the hate speech. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he lost the Saharanpur seat to BJP’s Raghav Lakhanpal.
4. In 2017, Imran Masood, the joint candidate of the Samajwadi Party and Congress, contested the UP Assembly elections from the Nakur seat. He lost to BJP’s Dharam Singh Saini. In 2019, Mr. Masood received another drubbing when he lost the Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat to BSP’s Haji Fazlur Rehman.

Party Hopping and Return to Congress

5. Ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Imran Masood left the Congress and joined the Samajwadi Party. However, this switch was short-lived, and he soon joined the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party. He suggested that BSP should join the INDIA bloc and praised Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. He was expelled from BSP for the breach of party discipline. In 2023, Imran Masood returned to Congress, describing it as his “ghar wapsi” or homecoming.

Expanding on Imran Masood’s political journey provides insight into his career trajectory, including his controversial statements, electoral setbacks, and frequent party affiliations. Despite facing challenges and controversies, Masood’s return to Congress underscores his enduring connection to the party.

Asif Iqbal

Asif Iqbal is a seasoned news writer with a passion for delivering the latest updates to the public. Currently serving as the senior writer at VoM News, a prominent news outlet known for its comprehensive coverage of diverse topics, Asif has established himself as a reliable source of information. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, he consistently provides readers with well-crafted articles that cover a wide range of news categories. His dedication to journalistic integrity and his commitment to staying ahead of the news curve make him an invaluable asset to Vom News, ensuring that readers are always well-informed on the issues that matter most. You can find his work and stay updated on current events by visiting vomnews.in.