From bullet to ballot: Ajay Sipahi’s rise and fall

Lucknow: Once known for his alleged links to organised crime and later for his growing political clout, Ajay Pratap Singh, alias Ajay Sipahi, carved a controversial journey from the world of crime to grassroots politics in eastern Uttar Pradesh. He has over 34 criminal cases against him. Sipahi, who began his career with the police force (hence the nickname), was later associated with powerful political figures such as Abhay Singh, later Dhananjay Singh and also with Mukhtar Ansari and Munna Bajrangi.
Despite his criminal background, Ajay managed to build a strong caste-based and cross-community support base. In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, he contested from Katehri on a ticket from the Nishad Party and secured around 18,000 votes, signalling his growing political presence despite defeat. After remaining politically unaffiliated for several years, Ajay's proximity to the Bharatiya Janata Party increased during the 2021 panchayat polls. Despite internal resistance within the party, he played a key role in ensuring the victory of his supported candidates and further tightened his grip over local politics. However, shifting loyalties and rivalries within political and criminal circles reportedly led to tensions, eventually contributing to increased scrutiny by law enforcement agencies, including the STF.