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Bandit queen Seema Parihar on Sunday announced to contest Lok Sabha by-election from Mirzapur under the banner of Indian Justice Party (IJP). Her bete noir in Chambal ravines Phoolan Devi once represented the constituency. The IJP is part of Jan Morcha Alliance (JMA) headed by Raj Babbar.

Talking to Hindustan Times over phone on Sunday Seema Parihar, 30, whose film on Chambal ravines "Wounded" was released last week, said she had decided to plunge in politics to forget her past. Seema Parihar was a dreaded bandit and ruled the ravines for more than a decade before surrendering in Aurraiya in 2000.

The IJP president Udit Raj said that there was no discussion with the JMA over her candidature. Udit Raj said if the JMA wanted the IJP into the alliance it should accept her candidature from Mirzapur.  

Slain bandit queen Phoolan Devi too had started her political journey to Lok Sabha from Mirzapur on Samajwadi Party ticket. Udit Raj said she would be "in the image of Phoolan Devi in the constituency". Seema said she was spellbound over the "love and affection" given by the people of Mirzapur. Seema addressed two public meetings on Sunday in Mirzapur.

The Samajwadi Party and BSP have decided to field Ramrati Bind and Ramesh Dubey respectively from the constituency. The BJP and Congress are yet to decide the candidates. The seat had fallen vacant following resignation of BSP MP Narendra Singh Kushwaha in bribery case. He had defeated Virendra Singh of BJP. The by-election is scheduled to be held on May 3 during sixth phase of assembly election.

Seema Parihar, currently on bail, was accused of nearly 37 kidnapping and murder cases in Auraiyya, Etawah, Kanpur Dehat, Orai, and Bhind (MP). "Wounded" a production of Pramod Bhardwaj and KC Mishra, in which Seema had done lead role was shot in Chambal ravines.

Like Phoolan, Seema was also thrown to Chambal when she was kidnapped by Lala Ram at the age of 13. Lala Ram asked Seema’s father to marry all his four daughters to Sengar Thakurs. But he declined to oblige the dacoit, which resulted into kidnapping of Seema, who was later married off to dacoit Phakkad and "Kanya Daan" was done by a woman gang member Kusuma Nain of Phakkad gang.

Seema stayed with Phakkad for nearly eight months before being taken away by Lala Ram. After Lala Ram’s encounter, she became gang leader. She led the gang of 20 dacoits before surrendering in 2000 along with her brother Ram Kumar.

Email author: mhasan@hindustantimes.com