Jailed Bihar lawmaker to contest polls from behind bars

Patna, Oct 2: A jailed Bihar legislator will contest the ensuing assembly polls from behind the bars after a court here gave him the permission.

Anant Singh, lodged in Beur Central Jail here, will join the poll fray as an Independent candidate from his stronghold Mokamah assembly constituency.

He will file his nomination papers on October 7, one of his close aides said on Friday.

In June, Singh was arrested in connection with a kidnapping-cum-murder case.

He belongs to powerful Bhumihar caste, who has played influential role in Bihar's politics and economy for decades.

Last month, Singh, known as "Chhote Sarkar" for his muscle and money power, resigned from the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

The JD-U has fielded its spokesperson Neeraj Kumar from Mokamah.

The polls to the 243-member Bihar assembly will take place in five phases between October 12 and November 5. The counting of votes is slated for November 8.

IANS