With major political parties shying away from giving them tickets for UP Assembly polls, lesser-known political outfits have become a hot favourite of listed gangsters and those having a criminal past. 

After Brijesh Singh was arrested in 2008 from Odisha in connection with several criminal cases pending against him, the lobby backing him tried to ensure his victory in MLC election on a BSP ticket but instead of him, his wife Annapurna Singh was given chance by the party and she emerged victorious.

Denied ticket by major political parties, Singh has now decided to prove his strength as a candidate of Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party (PMSP) from Syed Raza Assembly seat in Chandauli district. 

Before his arrest, his brother Udaynath Singh alias Chulbul and nephew Sushil Singh had already entered the political arena by becoming an MLC and an MLA on BJP and BSP tickets respectively.