MAU (UTTAR PRADESH): Taking a strong note of the threatening remarks aimed at local government officials, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday banned Abbas Ansari, son of jailed don-politician Mukhtar Ansari, from campaigning for 24 hours in the ensuing assembly elections.
Abbas is contesting the assembly poll from Mau seat on the ticket of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), an ally of the Samajwadi Party.
The action comes a day after Abbas while addressing a public meeting in Pahadpur village of Mau assembly constituency threatened government officials with retribution.
“I recently met Akhilesh Yadav and told him that if the Samajwadi Party-led alliance wins the elections, he should not transfer the government officials for six months. Pahle hisab-kitab hoga (scores would be settled first). Only then their transfer certificates would be stamped,” Abbas told the gathering.
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In its order, the poll panel said, “The Commission considering the gravity of the matter hereby deplores the impugned statements made by Abbas contesting candidate of SBSP from Mau and censures him for the above-said violation.”
It said, “Furthermore, the commission under article 324 of the Constitution of India and all other powers enabling in this behalf orders to prohibit from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, roadshows and interviews, public utterances in media etc in connection with ongoing elections for 24 hours from 7 pm on March 4.”
Uttar Pradesh Police registered a case against Abbas on Friday morning for violating the model code of conduct after the video of his public meeting went viral on social media.
Mau will vote in the seventh and last phase of the state assembly elections on March 7. The counting of votes will be held on March 10.
Mukhtar Ansari had been representing the Mau assembly seat since 1996. He is facing trial in a number of cases and is currently in jail.