BAAHUBALIS OF INDIAN POLITICS : From Bullet to Ballot

They are considered Robin Hoods by some, and dons and mafiosi by others. They are electeddemocratically. But they survive through the power of their bullets. They are the Baahubali politiciansof the world''s largest democracy-India.Across the country and over the decades, there have been people who either got into politicsthrough money and muscle power or gained either or both after their entry into politics. Theircareers have been pockmarked with criminal activity, and they have not hesitated to use their muscleand money power to get ahead. Nearly all of them have been imprisoned at some point in theirlives-and quite a few are still serving prison terms or awaiting justice. Based on research andreportage, this book brings to the readers the origin, rise and fall of Baahubali politicians acrossthe country-from Arun Gawli to Raja Bhaiya and from Mohammad Shahabuddin to MukhtarAnsari and many more... Through their stories the author shows how money and muscle powercontinue to exert a malignant infl¬uence on politics in India.