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The Print
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Son behind bars, wife on the run. Mukhtar Ansari's family struggles to retain grip on bastion
The seat fell vacant after Umar's older brother, Abbas Ansari, was disqualified as an MLA from the owing to his conviction in a hate speech case in June this year. Abbas won the seat in 2022 on a Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) ticket, when the party was aligned with the Samajwadi Party. The SBSP is now part of the BJP-led alliance. Some said the timing of Umar's arrest was no coincidence. The arrest came as Umar was reportedly preparing to contest the upcoming bypolls for the Mau Assembly seat, a constituency the family has held for the past 29 years. Lucknow: When jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of a heart attack in Banda last year, many believed it was a blow to the nexus between crime and politics in eastern Uttar Pradesh. But a year later, the former five-time MLA's family is in the headlines again. Lucknow police last week arrested his younger son, Umar Ansari, for allegedly submitting forged documents in court to reclaim his father's seized properties. Mukhtar's elder brother, Afzal Ansari, the Member of Parliament from Ghazipur, linked Umar's arrest to the upcoming Mau bypoll, claiming Umar enjoys strong public support. He said that Umar was being targeted to break his spirit, but the family wasn't afraid. 'He doesn't drink, doesn't have any disputes with anyone—all he does is twirl his moustache, and that alone bothers some people,' he said. According to Afzal, Umar was staying at his elder brother Abbas Ansari's official residence in Lucknow when the police picked him up. 'I was in Delhi for the Parliament session when I heard about the incident. I was informed that a case had been filed that evening, and based on that, Umar was arrested. The police's bias is not hidden now.' Police registered a criminal case against Umar in Ghazipur. He was taken into custody and later transferred there. Officials said Umar has been accused of trying to illegally reclaim a property that had been seized under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986. Investigators claim Umar filed a petition in court seeking the release of the confiscated property, but during document verification, it was allegedly found that he submitted forged papers with fake signatures of his mother, Afsa Ansari, who has been on the run for years. Uttar Pradesh police officials ThePrint spoke to said Umar will either have to admit to forging the signatures himself or reveal that he had been in contact with Afsa. They added that properties worth an estimated Rs 200 crore linked to the late Mukhtar Ansari and his associates have either been seized, freed or demolished so far. Also Read: Communism, anti-Bhumihar mobilisation, philanthropy — the cult of the Ansaris in Ghazipur Ansari political dynasty under siege The Ansari family has dominated the local political landscape for decades. Mukhtar Ansari was born into a prominent Muslim family: His father, Haji Subhanullah Ansari, was a Communist leader, and his grandfather, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari, was a Congress leader and freedom fighter. Mukhtar got into student politics while studying at Post Graduate College, Ghazipur. He took the political plunge officially in 1996 when he won an election on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket. Mukhtar held the Mau Sadar seat from 1996, winning twice on a BSP ticket (1996 and 2017), twice as an independent (2002 and 2007), and once as a Quami Ekta Dal candidate in 2012. He died of a cardiac arrest in Banda jail in March 2024. Having initially worked in property and contracts, by the early 1990s he became synonymous with land deals and tender-related gang wars in eastern Uttar Pradesh—especially Ghazipur, Mau, and Varanasi. In 2005, Mukhtar was accused in the daylight murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai and six others. This was widely seen as a revenge killing, as Rai had defeated Mukhtar's brother, Afzal, in the 2002 elections. However, in 2019, a CBI court acquitted Mukhtar and others in the case. Since 2020, the UP police have intensified action against the Ansari gang. After arresting Umar Ansari, Uttar Pradesh police have now intensified their efforts to trace Afsa Ansari who has been on the run for years and did not appear publicly even after her husband's death. According to Uttar Pradesh police officials, Afsa Ansari is a wanted accused in several cases and carries a reward of Rs 1 lakh on her head. In April this year, Ghazipur district police urged the people to provide any information that could assist in her arrest. Separate rewards of Rs 50,000 each have been announced by the police departments of both Ghazipur and Mau districts. All eyes on the family bastion With Umar's arrest and Abbas's disqualification, the Ansari family is struggling to hold on to its family stronghold. Moreover, with Afsa Ansari, the wife of Mukhtar Ansari, on the run, the Ansari family is finding it difficult to decide on a candidate for the upcoming bye-election. Currently, two names are being considered: Nusrat Ansari, daughter of Afzal Ansari, and Nikhat Ansari, wife of Abbas Ansari. Nusrat, who is also a theatre artist, became actively involved in the political scene last year while campaigning for her father in the Ghazipur parliamentary elections. Nikhat, on the other hand, was released from jail in 2023 after being arrested for unlawfully entering the prison to meet her husband, Abbas Ansari. Sources suggested a final call will be taken after Afzal meets Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. The BJP sees this as an opportunity to capture a seat that has been a stronghold of Mukhtar Ansari and his family for nearly 30 years. Party insiders say the BJP has already activated its organisational network in the Muslim-dominated constituency. The strategy, sources say, is to replicate the momentum seen in similar bypoll wins in Muslim-majority seats like Rampur (2022) and Kundarki (2024). Currently, two members of the Ansari family hold elected positions in Parliament and the state assembly. Afzal Ansari, Mukhtar's brother, won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Ghazipur constituency. Another family member, Suhaib Ansari, serves as an MLA in Uttar Pradesh, representing the Mohammadabad constituency. He is the son of former MLA Sibghatullah Ansari and the nephew of Mukhtar and Afzal Ansari. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: Muslims must turn away from leaders like Mukhtar Ansari. They will not bring true reform
New Indian Express
02-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'Will contest solo in Bihar if NDA talks collapse,' says SBSP chief Rajbhar
BALLIA: Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar said that his party is ready to contest the upcoming Bihar elections independently if seat-sharing talks with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) don't work out. Speaking to reporters at his party's headquarters in Rasra, Ballia district, on Friday evening, the Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister Rajbhar said, "Our first preference is to contest the elections in alliance with the NDA. Around 70 percent of the discussions have been finalised, and 30 percent is still pending." "However, we are also preparing for a second option. If, due to pressure from certain Bihar leaders, an agreement isn't reached, we are fully prepared to contest the elections independently," he said. Rajbhar made it clear that his party will not join the INDIA bloc. "Many parties are working outside the INDIA alliance, and talks are underway with some of them. If talks with the BJP do not succeed, we will form a separate front and contest elections. We are actively working on 156 seats," he added. Criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said, "When Rahul Gandhi travels abroad, he questions India's credibility and attacks the Election Commission. But when his party wins elections, he never raises such concerns. If he believes elections were rigged and victory came through manipulation, he should say so openly and provide evidence." He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi has already sensed defeat in Bihar, which is why "he has started making baseless statements, similar to those made by former PM VP Singh."
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Will contest solo in Bihar if NDA talks collapse, says SBSP chief Rajbhar
Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party ( SBSP ) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar said that his party is ready to contest the upcoming Bihar elections independently if seat-sharing talks with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) don't work out. Speaking to reporters at his party's headquarters in Rasra, Ballia district, on Friday evening, the Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister Rajbhar said, "Our first preference is to contest the elections in alliance with the NDA. Around 70 per cent of the discussions have been finalised, and 30 per cent is still pending." Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Finance Technology Data Science Artificial Intelligence Digital Marketing Cybersecurity others Design Thinking Data Analytics Management Public Policy MBA Healthcare Degree healthcare PGDM Operations Management Product Management Project Management Leadership MCA CXO Data Science Others Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Fintech & Blockchain India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta SEPO - IIMC CFO India Starts on undefined Get Details "However, we are also preparing for a second option. If, due to pressure from certain Bihar leaders, an agreement isn't reached, we are fully prepared to contest the elections independently," he said. Rajbhar made it clear that his party will not join the INDIA bloc. "Many parties are working outside the INDIA alliance, and talks are underway with some of them. If talks with the BJP do not succeed, we will form a separate front and contest elections. We are actively working on 156 seats," he added. Criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said, "When Rahul Gandhi travels abroad, he questions India's credibility and attacks the Election Commission. But when his party wins elections, he never raises such concerns. If he believes elections were rigged and victory came through manipulation, he should say so openly and provide evidence." Live Events He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi has already sensed defeat in Bihar, which is why "he has started making baseless statements, similar to those made by former PM VP Singh."
The Hindu
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rajbhar's Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party decides to contest Bihar election
The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) national president and Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Thursday (July 31, 2025) said that his party will contest the upcoming assembly elections of Bihar. Mr. Rajbhar also asserted that even if National Democratic Alliance (NDA) does not take him along, his party will show its strength in the assembly elections. The Uttar Pradesh based political party and leader was in Patna to take part in the workers' conference organized at the Bharatiya Mandapam Hall in which the party workers from different districts also attended the event. Mr. Rajbhar asserted that he is in talks with the NDA but if not given respectable seats then ready to go solo. 'The first attempt is to fight the Assembly elections in Bihar by staying with the NDA. Even if our talks don't work out, our party will contest the elections in Bihar on its own. People of castes like Rajbhar, Rajvanshi of the State will show the strength of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party in Bihar,' Mr. Rajbhar said. He further said, 'I had promised all of you that I will make an MLA from amongst you and send them to the assembly. I have to fulfil that promise. We are NDA partners and 70% of the talks have been finalised regarding contesting the elections. If our talks are finalised, then it is very good, otherwise the party is fully prepared to go solo in the Bihar elections.' He pointed out if party members leaders become a Minister or MLA then land will be given to the landless, along with this, one lakh rupees will also be given for marriage. 'On the land of Bihar, your MLA will raise the problems of your village, block, district,' Mr. Rajbhar added. Accompanied by Uday Narayan Rajbhar, Bihar State president of the party, he instructed the party workers to put up the party flag at their respective houses. Later while speaking to the media Mr. Rajbhar said that his party wants to contest in 29 Assembly seats and if not given then preparation is already going on in 156 seats out of 243 Assembly seats in Bihar. The two term MLA also took a dig at the NDA government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar alleging that not enough work has been done for the people of Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) in Bihar. SBSP's national general secretary and former Minister Dr Arvind Rajbhar said that whether in alliance or alone, elections have to be fought in Bihar. Mr. Arvind said that his party will put all its strength in the election campaign. National Spokesperson of the party, Piyush Mishra echoed the same saying that political parties of Bihar should not underestimate SBSP.
India Today
11-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
UP politician slapped by former companion during bhoomi pujan, video goes viral
Mahendra Rajbhar, the national president of the Suheldev Swabhiman Party, was assaulted by his former companion Brijesh Rajbhar in broad daylight during a Bhoomi Pujan event and the celebration of Maharaja Suheldev's Vijay Diwas in Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday.A video of the incident went viral on social media. In the video, it was seen Brijesh garlanding Mahendra and, following that, raining blows on the incident, Mahendra Rajbhar filed a written complaint with the police against Brijesh Rajbhar. While speaking to the media, Mahendra Rajbhar said that during the Bhoomi Pujan programme, Brijesh allegedly garlanded him and then slapped him several times when it was his turn to speak. "I was the chief guest at the Bhoomi Pujan event in the Jalalpur police station area. At the end of the event, when it was my turn to speak, Brijesh Rajbhar garlanded me and assaulted me," said also alleged that Brijesh carried out the assault at the behest of Om Prakash Rajbhar of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and a minister in Yogi Adityanath's however, has refuted all the allegations levelled against him and accused Mahendra of taking funding from the Samajwadi Party and abusing him during the were celebrating the Vijay Diwas of Maharaja Suheldev when Mahendra Rajbhar arrived. While talking over several issues, he started abusing me," said too, has refuted all the allegations levelled by Brijesh Rajbhar against inputs from Aditya Prakash Bharadwaj Tune InMust Watch
