MarielKrr8600268 at 06:59, 8 May 2026

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{{Short description|Member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Danish Azad Ansari
| image = Danish Azad Ansari Minister of State.jpg
| office = Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Muslim Waqf and Hajj
| term_start = 25 March 2022
| term_end =
| predecessor = [[Mohsin Raza]]
| successor =
| office2 = Member of Legislative Council, [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council|Uttar Pradesh]]
| term_start2 = 6 July 2022
| term_end2 =
| constituency2 = Elected by Legislative Assembly members
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|5|30}}
| birth_place = [[Ballia]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| spouse = Farah Deeba
| alma_mater = [[University of Lucknow]]
| profession = Politician
}}

'''Danish Azad Ansari''' is an Indian politician and the [[Minister of State]] for Minority Welfare, [[Waqf|Muslim Waqf]] and [[Hajj]] in the [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]], serving in the [[Second Yogi Adityanath ministry]]. He has been a member of the [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council]] since 2022, representing the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref>{{cite news |title=Danish Azad Ansari: An emerging Muslim face in BJP |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/danish-azad-ansari-an-emerging-face-in-bjp/article65958615.ece |date=2 October 2022 |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |author=MAYANK KUMAR |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Opposition distorting BJP's stand on Muslims: UP Minority Welfare Minister |url=https://www.siasat.com/opposition-distorting-bjps-stand-on-muslims-up-minority-welfare-minister-2505740/ |date=18 January 2023 |publisher=[[The Siasat Daily]] |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Danish Azad Ansari was born on 30 May 1988 in [[Ballia]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Latest News, Photos and Videos of Danish Azad Ansari |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/topic/danish-azad-ansari |date= |publisher=[[Hindustan (newspaper)|Hindustan]] |access-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127183434/https://www.livehindustan.com/topic/danish-azad-ansari |archive-date=27 January 2023}}</ref>

Danish Azad Ansari had his early education at Holy Cross School in [[Ballia]], Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{cite news |title=Danish Azad Ansari: Lone Muslim face in UP govt |url=https://theprint.in/india/danish-azad-ansari-lone-muslim-face-in-up-govt/888409/ |date=25 March 2022 |publisher=[[The Print]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Danish Azad Ansari: Lone Muslim face in Yogi's govt |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/danish-azad-ansari-lone-muslim-face-in-yogis-govt-1094603.html |date=25 March 2022 |publisher=[[Deccan Herald]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Danish Azad Ansari: Meet the lone Muslim face in the UP's Adityanath govt |url=https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/danish-azad-ansari-meet-the-lone-muslim-face-in-the-up-s-adityanath-govt-11648227710189.html |date=25 March 2022 |publisher=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref> After completing his primary education, Ansari went to the [[University of Lucknow]] and completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree followed by post-graduation in Quality Management and Public Administration.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Danish Ansari, the sole Muslim face in the Yogi Adityanath Cabinet |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/yogi-adityanath-2-0-of-52-ministers-only-one-muslim-face-who-s-danish-ansari-101648218388459.html |date=25 March 2022 |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Why did BJP make Danish Azad Ansari minister in place of Mohsin Raza Lok Sabha elections 2024 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/danish-azad-ansari-know-about-lone-muslim-face-yogi-cabinet-1929624-2022-03-25 |date=25 March 2022 |publisher=[[India Today]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref>

== Political career ==
Danish Azad Ansari began his political journey through student activism. He joined and was long active in the [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] (ABVP) — the student wing of the BJP — during his studies at the [[University of Lucknow]], where he served as a student leader.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Danish Azad Ansari? All you need to know about the lone Muslim minister in Yogi Adityanath's Cabinet |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/who-is-danish-azad-ansari-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-lone-muslim-minister-in-yogi-adityanaths-cabinet |date=25 March 2022 |publisher=[[The Free Press Journal]] |access-date=23 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Danish Azad Ansari? Know all about the lone Muslim face in Yogi cabinet 2.0 |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/why-did-bjp-make-danish-azad-ansari-minister-in-place-of-mohsin-raza-lok-sabha-elections-2024/1135875 |date=27 March 2022 |publisher=[[Zee News]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Meet Danish Azad Ansari, The Lone Muslim Minister in UP's Yogi Govt 2.0 |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/meet-danish-azad-ansari-the-lone-muslim-minister-in-ups-yogi-govt-2-0-4909547.html |date=25 March 2022 |author=Qazi Faraz Ahmad |publisher=[[News18]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref>

Following the BJP's formation of government in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, Ansari was appointed as a member of the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Committee in 2018 and was subsequently made a member of the Uttar Pradesh State Language Committee (Urdu),<ref name="dna2022">{{cite news |date=25 March 2022 |title=Meet Danish Azad, the Muslim face of Yogi Adityanath cabinet |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-meet-danish-azad-muslim-face-in-yogi-adityanath-cabinet-2942061 |work=[[DNA India]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="newsroompost2022">{{cite news |date=25 March 2022 |title=Danish Azad Ansari: Meet the lone Muslim minister in Yogi Adityanath's cabinet |url=https://newsroompost.com/india/danish-azad-ansari-meet-the-lone-muslim-minister-in-yogi-adityanaths-cabinet/5077159.html |work=Newsroom Post |access-date=23 April 2026}}</ref> a role in which he worked towards promoting Urdu literature and language among youth across the state.<ref name="toi_profile2022">{{cite news |date=25 March 2022 |title=Who is Danish Azad Ansari, the lone Muslim minister in Yogi Adityanath government |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/who-is-danish-azad-ansari-the-lone-muslim-minister-in-yogi-adityanath-government/articleshow/90442941.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=5 May 2026}}</ref>

He was elected State General Secretary of the BJP's Minority Morcha in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, focusing on outreach to Muslim communities, particularly Pasmanda groups. He was reappointed to the position in October 2021 ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.<ref>{{cite news |title=Danish Azad Ansari: Why this leader's name in new Yogi cabinet surprised many |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/danish-azad-ansari-who-is-he-yogi-adityanath-new-cabinet-full-list-of-ministers-up-govt-2022-03-25-765952 |date=25 March 2022 |publisher=[[India TV News]] |access-date=23 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Muslims love for PM Modi CM Yogi increasing Muslim faith in BJP says UP Minister Danish Azad Ansari |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/muslims-love-for-pm-modi-cm-yogi-increasing-muslim-faith-in-bjp-says-up-minister-danish-azad-ansari-2022-03-27-766171 |date=27 March 2022 |publisher=[[India TV News]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref>

On 25 March 2022, Ansari was sworn in as [[Minister of State]] for Minority Welfare, Muslim Waqf and [[Hajj]] in the [[Second Yogi Adityanath ministry]], replacing [[Mohsin Raza]] as the sole Muslim face in the UP cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lone Muslim mantri vows to end minority's BJP phobia in Uttar Pradesh |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/lone-muslim-mantri-vows-to-end-minoritys-bjp-phobia-in-uttar-pradesh/articleshow/90452603.cms |date=26 March 2022 |author=ARSHAD AFZAL KHAN |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Danish Azad Ansari minister in Yogi Adityanath cabinet |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/story-who-is-danish-azad-ansari-minister-in-yogi-adityanath-cabinet-6103020.html |date=25 March 2022 |author=Sudhir Jha |publisher=[[Hindustan (newspaper)|Hindustan]] |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref> He is the only [[Muslim]] face in the [[Second Yogi Adityanath ministry]] in the [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Azamgarh Lok Sabha bypoll: BJP's lone Muslim minister Danish Azad Ansari tries to win over community |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/azamgarh-lok-sabha-bypoll-bjps-lone-muslim-minister-danish-azad-ansari-tries-to-win-over-community/articleshow/92287120.cms |date=17 June 2022 |author=SHALABH |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref>

Ansari subsequently became a member of the [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council]] on 6 July 2022, after being fielded by the BJP in the biennial elections to the Council.<ref>{{cite news |title=Upbeat After Wins In Polls, UP Minister Ansari Says Muslims Rejected AIMIM's Vote Bank Politics |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/upbeat-after-wins-in-polls-up-minister-ansari-says-muslims-rejected-aimim-s-vote-bank-politics-news-244140 |date=11 December 2022 |publisher=[[Outlook India]] |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref>

In May 2025, the Uttar Pradesh State Haj Committee was reconstituted with Governor [[Anandiben Patel]] nominating 13 new members. On 2 June 2025, Ansari was unanimously elected as Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh State Haj Committee, with members accepting a proposal to make him chairman. His tenure as chairman is for three years.<ref>{{cite news |title=UP Haj Committee rejig: Minority Minister Danish Azad Ansari replaces Mohsin Raza |url=https://clarionindia.net/up-haj-committee-rejig-minority-minister-danish-azad-ansari-replaces-mohsin-raza/ |date=17 May 2025 |publisher=Clarion India |access-date=23 April 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UP Haj Committee: राज्य हज समिति के अध्यक्ष बने दानिश आजाद अंसारी, तीन साल का होगा कार्यकाल |url=https://hindi.pardaphash.com/up-haj-committee-danish-azad-ansari-became-the-chairman-of-the-state-haj-committee-tenure-will-be-three-years/ |date=2 June 2025 |publisher=Pardaphash |language=hi |access-date=23 April 2026}}</ref>

=== Political offices held ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! # !! From !! To !! Position !! Comments
|-
| 01 || 2017 || 2022 || State General Secretary, BJP Minority Morcha, Uttar Pradesh || Reappointed in October 2021 ahead of the 2022 UP Assembly elections
|-
| 02 || 2018 || 2021 || Member, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Committee || Appointed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
|-
| 03 || 25 March 2022 || Incumbent || Minister of State – Minority Welfare, Muslim Waqf and Hajj, Government of Uttar Pradesh || Took oath as part of the [[Second Yogi Adityanath ministry]]; succeeded [[Mohsin Raza]]
|-
| 04 || 6 July 2022 || Incumbent || Member, [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council]] || Elected for the first time (by Legislative Assembly members)
|-
| 05 || 2 June 2025 || Incumbent || Chairman, Uttar Pradesh State Haj Committee || Unanimously elected; three-year tenure
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://up.bjp.org/node/64056 Danish Azad Ansari profile on BJP Uttar Pradesh official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ansari, Danish Azad}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Ballia district]]
[[Category:University of Lucknow alumni]]
[[Category:Indian Muslim politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]

Danish Azad Ansari - Revision history

MarielKrr8600268 at 06:59, 8 May 2026