 "Meet Ajaz Khan, the candidate who has 5.6 million followers and got 155 votes, lesser than Nota")
Ajaz Khan, known for his stint on the popular reality TV show Bigg Boss, faced a major setback in the Maharashtra assembly elections.
Khan, who boasts of 5.6 million followers on Instagram, failed to translate his virtual popularity in votes as the actor-turned-politician managed to get only 155 votes in the Versova constituency, as per the Election Commission’s latest tally.
What’s even more surprising is that the NOTA (None of the Above) option easily surpassed Khan and secured around 1,298 votes.
As Khan navigates yet another political disappointment, here’s a look back at his journey so far.
From reel to real
Ajaz Khan first rose to prominence in Season 7 of the popular reality show Bigg Boss, hosted by Salman Khan.
Following his stint on Bigg Boss, he appeared in several reality shows, including Fear Factor, Comedy Nights With Kapil, Comedy Classes, and Comedy Nights Bachao. He also expanded his career with roles in Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films, along with several music videos.
However, the actor soon changed paths and made his entry into politics. He contested the Mumbai North Central seat in the recent Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate but received only 1,041 votes, losing to Indian National Congress candidate Gaikwad Varsha Eknat.
Undeterred, he redirected his efforts to state politics, running from the Versova Assembly Constituency in Mumbai. This time, he joined the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), led by Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad.
Sharing a video of him filing the nomination paper, the actor wrote, “Alhamdulillah @BhimArmyChief thnx brother for trusting me let’s fight together."
Before the Maharashtra elections, he was also seen rallying around among people with the party workers. He shared the video and wrote, “Jeet Jaye Ge hum… Tu Agar Sang Hai… Bhot bhot shukriya mere bhai @bhimarmychief Mujhpe bharosa karne k liye aaj tak mein akela ladta raha paheli baar kisi ne hath Thama hai is sachai ki Jung mein inshallah jeet humari hogi."
Catch up on all live updates from the Maharashtra election results
Khan’s brush with the law
Khan also had multiple run-ins with the law. As per his nomination papers, he has as many as 11 cases registered against him.
Earlier this year, Khan made headlines when a customs official reportedly arrested his staff for attempting to import drugs from Europe. The seized parcel contained 100 grams of Mephedrone valued at Rs 30 lakh. Khan’s involvement was also investigated by the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB), according to The Times of India.
In 2021, he was detained by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for allegedly possessing illegal substances. This led to almost two years of imprisonment, during which Khan missed out on work and time with his son, Adan Khan. “One day feels like a year inside the jail,” he said, reflecting on the experience.
Khan’s past legal issues also include a 2018 arrest for ecstasy possession, which he claims was a setup by those aiming to damage his reputation. In 2019, he was detained for two days over a controversial social media post, after which he vowed to avoid sharing opinions online.
In 2016, he was accused of sending inappropriate messages to a model, a charge he denied.
A massive electoral defeat
After Ajaz Khan’s surprising defeat in the Versova elections, social media was abuzz with reactions, many pointing out the irony that a popular Instagram celebrity, with a huge following, struggled to get even 100 votes.
Critics noted that his loss should serve as a “reality check,” reminding him that social media followers don’t guarantee electoral success. “Digital followers do not necessarily translate to votes. One has to do the hard work and work for the public in most cases,” wrote a user.
Ajaz kHan has 5.6 million followers on Insta.
— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) November 23, 2024
He got 140 votes only. His tally is even less than NOTA. 😂😂
This is why you should never take your online following seriously. pic.twitter.com/E75SB3V2mk
Others highlighted that politics demands more than a polished online presence, with one netizen quipping, “Filters and hashtags don’t work in politics. Turns out democracy doesn’t care about reels or aesthetic feeds.”
The actor, however, blames the EVM machine for his loss. He said, “Jo saalo se Contest karrahe hai aur Politics mei hai, badi party, bada naam wo candidates haar rahe hain, ya Phir Bahut kam Votes laaye hain. Mai toh Social worker hu jo logo ki awaaz banne koshish karta hu……Sab EVM ka Khel hai Bhayya.”
Meanwhile, in Versova, Haroon Khan of Shiv Sena (UBT) clinched victory with 65,396 votes, narrowly beating BJP’s Bharati Lavekar, who garnered 63,796 votes.
Statewide, the Mahayuti alliance is heading for a sweeping win, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) appears set for a significant defeat.
With input from agencies
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