Lucknow: In a major political development, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat has reinstated the membership of Samajwadi Party leader Abbas Ansari, son of the late Mukhtar Ansari. The decision came on September 8 after the Allahabad High Court stayed his two-year jail sentence in a hate speech case, as per a report by the New Indian Express.
With this order, the Mau Sadar Assembly seat will no longer require a by-election, securing Abbas’s position and reaffirming the Ansari family’s enduring influence in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Principal Secretary Pradeep Kumar Dubey issued the directive, declaring Abbas’s membership effective immediately.
The ruling triggered celebrations among Abbas’s supporters, who termed it a victory for justice and dignity. Many in Mau and Ghazipur described it as a reaffirmation of Purvanchal’s Muslim identity and political representation. “Opponents thought they had ended the Ansari family’s political legacy, but truth has prevailed,” said a senior supporter.
Despite the reinstatement, Abbas also appeared before the Ghazipur CJM court in connection with a land-grabbing case filed by businessman Abu Fakhar Khan. The case, dating back to 2012, alleges Abbas and his family coerced Khan into transferring land worth crores for just Rs 25 lakh. The FIR, registered in August 2023, names Abbas, his mother Afsha, and other relatives. The next hearing is scheduled for September 24.
Abbas’s confident appearance—long hair, sunglasses, and a salute to his followers in his father’s trademark style—drew strong reactions from supporters. For many, it was a symbolic reminder of Mukhtar Ansari’s legacy. “It was like seeing Mukhtar Sahab again,” said an emotional supporter.
While critics highlight the pending criminal case, Abbas’s supporters dismiss it as politically motivated. “Cases are weapons to weaken Muslim leaders, but the Ansaris always return stronger,” remarked a Mau teacher.
Political analysts suggest this reinstatement could reshape the electoral dynamics of Purvanchal, unsettling rivals and strengthening the Samajwadi Party’s presence in the region.
An elderly supporter summed up the public mood: “Allah is just, and the court has given Abbas Bhai a new beginning.”
