Arif returns but BSP expels him, withdraws Assembly ticket

On a day Mohammad Arif, who was earlier declared BSP's candidate from Budhana Assembly constituency, returned mysteriously five days after his "abduction" he finds himself expelled from the party and his ticket withdrawn.
"Mohd. Arif has not only been denied party ticket but has also been expelled from the party by the party president Mayawati," BSP national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui told PTI.
Arif reappeared in Panipat today as mysteriously as he had disappeared five days ago leading to protests and road blocks, Siddiqui said, adding on reappearance he said he had gone away due to a family discord.
"His personal matters should not reflect on the party.. this action of his has also earned a bad name for the party and he can do the same future too...How will he fight elections...He has been expelled," Siddiqui said.

BSP had decided to field the 40-year-old Delhi-based businessman from Budhana constituency in the 2017 Assembly polls.
Arif had gone missing on July 12 in Meerut district while he was on his way to Muzaffarnagar from Delhi, with police suspecting it to be a case of abduction.

His family members complained that he had left for Muzaffarnagar in his car with Rs 10 lakh cash but when he did not reach his native place, they called on his mobile phone but he did not receive it.
Later, the family members launched a search and his car was found parked in Meerut, locked from inside.

Arif's family members had suspected that a former BSP candidate from Budhana, Naeem, was behind the abduction.
Arif's supporters and family members also blocked Karnal - Meerut Highway at Ghari Sakhwat village here for few hours to protest against his disappearance and the traffic resumed on the road after police pacified the protesters.