Lawyer throws a party for Abu Salem

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Mumbai: Gangster Abu Salem has got a gift from his lawyer: a new political party which will fight the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2007.

Salem, who is on trial in a range of criminal cases that include the 1993 Mumbai blasts, wants to contest from his hometown Mubarakpur.

Salem’s lawyer Ashok Sarogi told a news agency on Thursday he had set up the Rashtriya Samajwadi Party for his client.

"We applied to the Election Commission in August and we have just received approval to form the party. The party will provide a fresh outlook for the people who are tired of existing organisations," Sarogi said.

Satyendra Singh Yadav, who claims to be a film actor, is the party’s president and Sarogi its general secretary. Sarogi said the party’s symbol will be a motorcycle, but refused to comment on of members it had.

The party will contest the Mumbai civic polls and at least 20 assembly seats in UP including Salem's hometown of Mubarakpur.

"The party will fight police arrogance and expose corruption. In Mubarakpur, we will raise the issue of embroidery not being paid salaries," Sarogi said.

The lawyer said Salem is looking forward to contest the UP elections. “He has not yet taken membership of the party but is expected to contest under this political banner."