Has Abbas Ansari's Assembly Membership Been Restored?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Abbas Ansari's Assembly membership has been reinstated following a High Court ruling.
- The decision prevents a by-election in the Mau district.
- Abbas Ansari was previously convicted of hate speech.
- This ruling reflects the influence of the Ansari family in local politics.
- Legal decisions can significantly affect political landscapes.
Lucknow, Sep 8 (NationPress) The Assembly membership of Abbas Ansari, the eldest son of the late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari and the elected representative from the Mau district of Uttar Pradesh, has been reinstated.
Following the suspension of his jail sentence by the Allahabad High Court, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat issued an order on Monday to reinstate the membership of Abbas Ansari, a leader of the Samajwadi Party.
This ruling eliminates the necessity for a by-election for the Mau Sadar Assembly seat.
The Assembly Secretariat clarified that, in adherence to the High Court's directive, Abbas Ansari's membership is restored with immediate effect.
The order for reinstatement was issued by Pradeep Kumar Dubey, Principal Secretary of the Legislative Assembly, in compliance with the Allahabad High Court's ruling.
On May 31, the local MP-MLA court sentenced Abbas Ansari to two years in prison due to a criminal case.
His Assembly membership was annulled based on this conviction.
However, the Allahabad High Court subsequently stayed his conviction and ruled in his favor, prompting immediate action from the Legislative Assembly Secretariat to restore his membership.
Abbas Ansari faced accusations of delivering hate speech during the 2022 Assembly elections.
As a result of this conviction, the MP-MLA court sentenced him to two years in prison, leading to the cancellation of his Assembly membership.
This restoration is viewed as a significant relief for Abbas Ansari, as his membership's cancellation raised the likelihood of a by-election in the region.
The Ansari family holds considerable influence over the Mau Sadar Assembly seat.
Abbas Ansari's father, Mukhtar Ansari, has had a longstanding impact in this locality, and Abbas won this seat during the 2022 Assembly elections.
He had reportedly made provocative statements at a public gathering, warning government officials that he would “settle scores and teach them a lesson” once the Samajwadi Party regained power.
“I have informed Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, that after the government forms, there will be no transfers or postings for six months. Everyone will remain in their current positions. First, we will conduct a 'Hisab-Kitab', and only then will transfers occur,” he stated.
This statement was perceived as threatening and inflammatory, leading the Election Commission to prohibit him from campaigning at that time. His comments gained widespread attention on social media.
Subsequently, a case was filed against him at the Kotwali Nagar police station in 2022. During the trial, six witnesses testified in court.