Lalu’s daughter may contest LS elections

The 2014 elections may see RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti making her political debut and contest the polls. Prasad, after being convicted in the fodder scam, can’t contest polls according to the new Supreme Court order

The 2014 elections may see RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti making her political debut and contest the polls. Prasad, after being convicted in the fodder scam, can’t contest polls according to the new Supreme Court order.

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Congress sources involved in the negotiation with RJD for a possible tie up told HT that Prasad has expressed his desire to field Misa from Patliputra seat and wife, former Bihar CM Rabri Devi from Saran.

Prasad had contested from both seats in 2009 but won only from Saran.

Last July, the SC had declared Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act as ultra vires. The section protected convicted lawmakers from disqualification who had appealed against the conviction in a higher court within 90 days of announcement of the sentence.

As the UPA government’s move to bring an ordinance fell flat after Rahul Gandhi dubbed it as “complete nonsense”, Prasad cannot contest an election in a legislative body for six years after his jail-term gets over.

Prasad’s two sons cannot contest LS polls as they are both underage for the House.