The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat on Sunday formally declared the Mau Sadar Assembly seat vacant following the conviction of sitting MLA Abbas Ansari in a 2022 hate speech case. The action came just a day after a special MP/MLA court in Mau sentenced Ansari to two years’ imprisonment under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including those related to promoting enmity, criminal intimidation, and criminal conspiracy.
The SBSP, led by UP Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, has announced its intent to challenge the conviction in the Allahabad High Court, claiming the verdict is politically motivated.
“We respect the judiciary, but we will exercise our right to appeal. Abbas has been targeted because of his family’s political legacy,” said Rajbhar.
In a rare administrative move, the Assembly Secretariat remained open on Sunday to issue the disqualification notification. Assembly Principal Secretary Pradeep Dubey promptly communicated the decision to the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, paving the way for a by-election to the now-vacant seat.
Abbas Ansari, 32, represented the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and is the son of the late politician Mukhtar Ansari, who died in Banda Jail in March 2024. Abbas becomes the sixth MLA disqualified in the 18th UP Assembly. Previously disqualified members include Azam Khan, Abdullah Azam, Irfan Solanki, Vikram Saini, and Ramdular Gond, all of whom were removed from office following criminal convictions.
Background of Conviction
The speech that led to Abbas Ansari’s conviction was delivered during a campaign rally on March 3, 2022, at Pahadpur Ground in Mau. Ansari allegedly warned bureaucrats and police officers aligned with the ruling BJP, stating:
“Jo lath bajaa rahe hain, unka hisaab baad mein hoga. Maine Akhilesh Bhaiya se baat kar li hai — sarkar banne ke baad 6 mahine tak koi transfer-posting nahi hoga. Sabka hisaab hoga.”
(“Those wielding batons will be held accountable later. I have spoken to Akhilesh Bhaiyya—there will be no transfers or postings for six months after we form the government. Everyone will be held to account.”)
The Election Commission of India immediately took note of the incendiary remarks, imposing a 24-hour campaign ban on Ansari. A First Information Report (FIR) was subsequently filed by Sub-Inspector Gangaram Bind under IPC sections 153 (promoting enmity), 505 (public mischief), 506 (criminal intimidation), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 186 (obstructing public servants).
Apart from Abbas, the FIR also named his brother Umar Ansari, his election agent Mansoor Ahmed Ansari, and more than 150 others. While Abbas and Mansoor were later granted bail, Umar continues to face trial in the same case.
Abbas Ansari’s legal troubles extend beyond the hate speech case. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in November 2022 on money laundering charges linked to alleged criminal activities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Gangsters Act. After over 28 months in jail, he was released on March 21, 2025, from Kasganj Jail.
In early 2023, Ansari again made headlines after his wife, Nikhat Ansari, was found to have illegally met him inside Chitrakoot Jail, reportedly with help from jail staff. The incident led to their transfer to separate prisons, and Nikhat was later arrested, spending 154 days in custody before being released.
With Abbas Ansari’s disqualification, SBSP’s strength drops to five MLAs in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Political observers now await the Election Commission’s timeline for the Mau Sadar by-election, which is expected to draw attention amid the region’s volatile political climate and enduring legacy of the Ansari family’s influence.
