JD-U urges CEC to cancel RJD candidates’ nominations

Patna, April 19 (IANS) The Janata Dal-United on Friday demanded that the Chief Election Commissioner cancel the nomination papers filed by the RJD candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar, asking how jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad had distributed the party symbol with his signature, in apparent violation of the jail manual.

JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said that he has written to the CEC demanding the cancellation of the nomination papers filed by the RJD candidates.

"On which basis jailed Lalu had distributed the party symbol with his signature to candidates. Whether Lalu has taken permission of the court to distribute the party symbol?" Kumar said.

The JD-U leader said that he has urged the CEC to take action in this connection.

Lalu had reportedly distributed the RJD symbol to the candidates after the party authorised him to do so.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal is contesting on 19 out of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state as per the seat sharing formula of the opposition grand alliance.

Lalu was convicted in three fodder scam cases in December 2017 and January 2018 and was awarded 14 years imprisonment. He has applied for bail in the Supreme Court.

Lalu Prasad, as President of the RJD, is entitled to distribute the party symbol. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.

Earlier, a PIL was filed in the Patna High Court questioning the legitimacy of the distribution of the party symbol by Lalu Prasad who, the PIL stated, could not hold the post after being convicted in corruption cases.