BSP MP Afzal Ansari disqualified from Lok Sabha

The Ghazipur MP’s brother, criminal-turned politician Mukhtar Ansari, was also sentenced to 10 years in the same case. Both had been booked under the UP Gangsters Act.

Afzal Ansari, BSP MP from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, lost his Lok Sabha seat on May 1 after being convicted and sentenced in a case of kidnapping and murder.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a notification disqualifying him as an MP after he was convicted and sentenced by a special MP/MLA court on April 29 in connection with the November 2005 murder of then MLA from Ghazipur, Krishnanad Rai, along with the kidnapping and murder of Varanasi-based trader Nand Kishore Rungta in 1997.

Also read: Mukhtar Ansari gets 10 years jail term in kidnapping, murder case

The Ghazipur MP’s brother, criminal-turned politician Mukhtar Ansari, was also sentenced to 10 years in the same case. Both had been booked under the UP Gangsters Act.

“Consequent upon his conviction…Afzal Ansari, Member of Lok Sabha representing the Ghazipur Parliamentary Constituency of Uttar Pradesh, stands disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction i.e. 29 April, 2023 in terms of the provisions of Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” the Lok Sabha notification said.

According to the Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which guides the disqualification of a  legislator, the moment a Member of Parliament is convicted of any offence and sentenced for at least two years, she or he attracts disqualification.

Mr. Ansari will not be able to contest elections as his disqualification period is 10 years. However, he can get his disqualification revoked if a superior court stays his conviction and sentencing.