Mukhtar Ansari’s Death: How Leaders Across Parties Reacted To Gangster-Turned-Politician's Demise

New Delhi: Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari passed away from a heart attack on Thursday evening. He had been admitted to Banda Medical College after his health deteriorated.

Earlier, Ansari had been hospitalised for abdominal pain while in prison, but he was discharged on the same day after his condition stabilised. Afzal Ansari, his brother, alleged that Mukhtar had been poisoned while in jail.

Ansari had served as a five-time MLA from the Mau Sadar constituency and had been in custody in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab since 2005. He faced over 60 criminal cases and had been convicted in eight cases since September 2022 by various Uttar Pradesh courts, leading to his detention in Banda jail.

Reacting to his death, Samajwadi Party posted on X in Hindi, “Sad demise of former MLA Shri Mukhtar Ansari. May his soul rest in peace. May the bereaved family members get the strength to bear this immense sorrow. Humble tribute.”

Terming the death as “institutional murder”, former MP Pappu Yadav took to X and said, “The Institutional murder of former legislator Mukhtar Ansari is like burying Law, constitution, natural justice”.

“Today Mukhtar Ansari’s death in the jail raises a big question BJP-led UP Government…This should be investigated thoroughly so that everyone gets to know what is going on,” Congress leader Surendra Rajput told ANI.

Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav wrote, “Sad news was received about the demise of former UP MLA Shri Mukhtar Ansari. We pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear the loss. A few days ago he had complained that he had been poisoned in jail, yet it was not taken seriously. Prima facie this does not seem justifiable and humane. Constitutional institutions should take suo motu cognizance of such cases.”

According to his last election affidavit filed in 2017, Ansari disclosed movable and immovable assets valued at Rs 21 crore, including assets held under the names of his dependents. Additionally, he declared having 16 self-reported criminal cases against him.

He left behind his wife and their three children after the incident.