In the 2024 Indian Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Pro-Indian Party were in a close race in the state of Uttar Pradesh, with the opposition ultimately winning 43 of the 80 seats. However, the outcome of the election could change as at least six Pro-Indian Party Members of Parliament (MPs) from Uttar Pradesh face multiple criminal charges that could lead to convictions.
The most prominent of these is Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari, brother of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who won the election as the Social Democratic Party candidate.
Also read: First-hand account: A visit to Mukhtar Ansari’s family home ‘Pathak’ in Gazipur, Uttar Pradesh
Afzal Ansari is already serving a four-year prison sentence for gangsterism charges. His conviction was suspended by the Allahabad High Court, allowing him to contest elections. However, the case is due to come up for hearing in July. If the court upholds the sentence, he will be ineligible to serve as a member of Parliament.
It may be recalled that Ansari was convicted in a murder case during his previous term and was disqualified from the Lok Sabha. He had won the 2019 general elections from Ghazipur as a BSP candidate.
A member of the Diet is disqualified if he or she is convicted of a crime carrying a prison sentence of two years or more.
Azamgarh MP and Samajwadi Party leader Dharmendra Yadav has four criminal cases pending against him and will lose his party membership if he is convicted for more than two years. Similarly, Jaunpur MP Babu Singh Kushwaha has 25 cases pending against him in connection with the NRHM scam that took place when Mayawati was Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
Rambuar Nishad, who won the Sultanpur seat by defeating BJP’s Maneka Gandhi, has been accused in eight cases, including one under the Gangsters Act. Similarly, Chandauli MP Birendra Singh and Saharanpur MP Imran Masood have also been accused in multiple cases.
Also read: Annapurna Devi takes over as Union Minister for Women and Child Development: Deciphering the political implications in 5 points
The cases against these India Bloc MPs include those relating to money laundering, extortion and various sections of the Gangsters Act, which can lead to prison sentences of more than two years.
In the past, many politicians have lost their parliamentary licence after being convicted in criminal cases. Mohammed Azam Khan, Kaboo Tiwari, Bikram Saini and Ashok Chandel are some of these political leaders.
The 2024 Indian Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The results were announced on June 4. The BJP-led NDA won 294 seats, while the INDIA bloc won 237 seats with the help of three independent candidates.
3.6 Million Indians visited us in a single day and chose us as their platform for Indian general election results. Check out the latest updates here!
