RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has appealed in the Jharkhand High Court for his bail. According to reports, Yadav has pleaded that as he is the president of RJD, he needs bail so he can lead the party in preparations for the upcoming 2019 general elections.
Lalu Yadav has reportedly stated in his bail plea that being the party president, he is the only person authorised to select candidates and the Election Commission will not allocate the party symbol to his candidates without his signature. He has also stated that as per EC norms, he cannot vest this power on another person.
Yadav, who has been undergoing treatment in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi has also included his poor health as one of the reasons he is seeking bail. It is notable here that the RJD supremo was incarcerated in December last year after his conviction in three of the five fodder scam cases.
After spending about two months in the Birsa Munda Prison in Ranchi, Lalu Yadav was shifted to the RIMS for treatment. He has subsequently been treated in AIIMS, Delhi and Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai.
Yadav was awarded a 3.5 years jail term in Deoghar treasury case, five years in the Chaibasa treasury case and 14 years in the Dumka treasury case.
In August this year, after two extended bail periods on health grounds, the Jharkhand HC had rejected his bail plea and had asked Lalu to surrender by the end of the month.
He is said to be suffering from a number of ailments, including hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, perianal abscess and also depression.
As per reports, the Jharkhand HC is yet to take up Lalu’s bail plea for hearing.