Lalu Yadav Files Petition In HC to Gear Up for 2019 General Polls

In his petition, the Lalu Prasad Yadav also sought for a bail on the ground of age and ailments.

File photo of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. 

(Photo: Reuters)

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has appealed for a bail-plea in the Jharkhand High Court to participate in important party related decision making process for the upcoming 2019 general elections, Hindustan Times reported on Thursday, 13 December.

In the plea, Yadav stated that being the party president he was the only person authorised to select candidates for different parliamentary constituencies. The plea further read that as per Election Commission (EC) rules, he cannot transfer power to another person and if the party fails to declare candidates, the EC would allocate symbols.

The former Bihar chief minister was sent to Ranchi's Birsa Munda Central Jail after being convicted in December 2017 in the fodder scam case. He was also convicted in two other cases in January and March 2018 and was awarded 14 years’ imprisonment.

In 2013, he was convicted in the first fodder scam case and sentenced to jail for five years.

Suffering From Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Yadav Also Cites Health Ailments

In his petition, the 71-year-old also sought for a bail on the ground of age and ailments.

Yadav who is suffering from diabetes, blood pressure and other ailments, is currently lodged at a paying ward of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi. His condition had deteriorated on 18 November due to a festering boil on his right leg.

He was granted a provisional bail for six weeks by the high court on 11 May for specialised treatment at the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai which was later extended twice. Since the bail term got over on 30 August, Yadav is being treated at RIMS.

The Jharkhand High Court is yet to take up his fresh bail-plea for hearing.

(With inputs from Hindustan Times and PTI)