Modi being fixed? - Ansari's withdrawal creates waves.

Don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari on Thursday announced he will not contest the Varanasi seat against the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi and the Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal. The decision has been taken to avoid the division of votes, Ansari's party, the Quami Ekta Dal, said.

The QED leader, who is currently lodged in Agra jail on charges of murdering a BJP MLA, conveyed the decision through his brother and national party president Afzal Ansari in Varanasi. The decision was taken "to strengthen secular forces and avoid division of votes", Afzal Ansari said.