JMM candidate's nomination rejected in Jharkhand

Nizammudin Ansari was sentenced to two years in prison in 2011, due to which his nomination was rejected

The nomination of JMM candidate Nizammudin Ansari for the Jharkhand Assembly polls from Dhanwar constituency was today rejected as he was sentenced to two years in prison by a Giridih court in 2011 in connection with an assault case.

Returning Officer and Sub-divisional Officer Ravi Shankar Vidyarthi who had kept his papers pending after scrutiny on November 22 announced the rejection today, Giridih Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Verma told reporters here.

Polling is scheduled at Dhanwar in the third phase on December 9.

Ansari, who had won the 2009 assembly elections on Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) ticket, had filed his nomination papers for Dhanwar seat as a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate this time.

He had resigned as an MLA this year.

A local court had on November 30, 2013 convicted and sentenced Ansari to two years in prison in connection with a case pertaining to land dispute and the subsequent assault on one Bhubaneswar Thakur on April 19, 2003.

Ansari was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment under various sections of the IPC, including 147 (rioting), 341 (wrongfully restraining any person) and 506 (criminal intimidation). He is on bail now.

As per Section 8 (3) of R P Act, 1951, if a person is convicted of any offence and sentenced to an imprisonment of 2 years or more, he is disqualified to contest an election.

Even if the person is on bail after the conviction and his appeal is pending for disposal, he is disqualified from contesting an election as per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission.