Patna: Jailed Mokama MLA Anant Singh on Monday arrived at the Bihar legislative assembly under tight security to cast his vote in the Rajya Sabha elections, declaring that the current electoral cycle would be his last and that his children would contest future elections.
Voting is underway in Bihar for five Rajya Sabha seats, with the victory of chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) candidates and Bharatiya Janata Party nominees widely expected. A tougher contest is predicted for the fifth seat between National Democratic Alliance-backed Upendra Kushwaha and Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate Amarendra Dhari Singh.
Leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav has also expressed confidence about the opposition alliance securing a seat with the support of legislators from parties including Congress, AIMIM and the BSP.
Singh, the MLA from Mokama who is currently lodged in Beur jail, reached the assembly premises in an ambulance accompanied by police personnel. After casting his vote, he briefly spoke to reporters and predicted that the National Democratic Alliance would win all five seats.
“We will win all five seats. I will cast my vote for Nitish ji,” he said.
Responding to questions about his imprisonment, Singh said his case was currently pending before the High Court and expressed hope that he would be released soon. He told supporters not to lose hope, claiming he could be out of jail within a month.
During the interaction with reporters, Singh also said he would no longer contest elections after the present term. “This is my final election; from now on, my children will contest,” he said.
When asked about Bihar’s political future and the possibility of a successor to Nitish Kumar as chief minister, Singh said the decision rested entirely with the veteran leader. He added that he would accept whichever choice he made regarding the state’s leadership.
Singh was allowed to vote after a special court for MPs and MLAs granted permission following a petition filed by his counsel. The plea argued that, as an elected legislator and voter in the Rajya Sabha election scheduled for March 16, Singh should be permitted to exercise his franchise despite being in custody.
Judge Praveen Kumar Malviya directed the superintendent of Beur jail to ensure Singh was escorted to the assembly under full security arrangements to cast his vote and then returned to jail immediately afterward.
Amid the closely watched Rajya Sabha contest in Bihar, where the balance of votes among legislators remains crucial, each vote has taken on added significance. Singh was escorted back to Beur jail shortly after casting his ballot.
