Anant Singh will take oath by walking on 'Agneepath'! Biggest crisis on Mokama MLA's oath

Patna. The formation of the new government in Bihar has been completely completed. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken oath for the 10th time and 26 ministers have also taken the oath of office and secrecy. Departments have been divided and the first meeting of the new cabinet is going to be held on 25th November. Now preparations are on for a special session of the Assembly, in which all the newly elected 243 MLAs will take oath. But, meanwhile, the biggest question has arisen regarding the oath of JDU MLA and strongman leader Anant Singh, who won from Mokama. How will Anant Singh, who is in jail, reach the House?

“Anant Singh will take oath by walking on the Agneepath”… Actually, this line is resonating the most in the politics of Bihar these days. After the formation of the new government, when all the elected MLAs are busy preparing for the oath, then this path is no less than a real litmus test for JDU MLA and strong leader Anant Singh, who won from Mokama. The bail plea of Anant Singh, lodged in Beur jail in the murder case, has been rejected, and now everyone’s eyes are fixed on whether he will take parole for the oath or the government and the assembly will have to find a special way to reach the House.

Jail in murder case, bail rejected

Let us tell you that Anant Singh is currently in judicial custody in Beur jail in the Dularchand Yadav murder case. Recently he had filed a bail petition in Patna Civil Court, but the court rejected it. After the cancellation of bail, the discussion has intensified as to what will be the path of his oath taking. Will they come out on parole? Can an officer go to jail and administer oath? Or will any special arrangement be made in the assembly process?

Had got parole earlier also, this time also there is hope

This is not the first time that he has won an election while in jail. He lived a similar life in 2020 also and then the court gave him parole and allowed him to take the oath. Therefore, it is believed that this time also he will file a parole petition in the court. His supporters have already put up posters like ‘Jail locks will be broken, Anant Bhai will be freed’.

What does the Constitution say?

Article 188 of the Indian Constitution says that the MLA has to take oath before the Governor or an officer authorized by him. The normal procedure is that jailed MLAs reach the Assembly on temporary bail or parole and return to jail immediately after the oath. In some special cases, the officer can administer the oath even after going to jail, but this happens only when the court clearly refuses to grant any kind of release.

Oath required in six months to save membership

The rules of the Assembly state that there is no strict time limit for taking the oath, but if the oath is not taken for six months, the legislature may end. Apart from this, no MLA can remain absent for more than 59 days continuously without permission. Anant Singh is also relieved because he is not yet convicted but is in judicial custody. The situation may change after the charge sheet is filed and charges are framed.

Now look at the court order

It is believed in political circles that Anant Singh will soon apply for parole. If parole is granted, he will go to the Assembly and take oath, and if parole is not granted, then consideration can be given to administering the oath in jail. However, this will depend on the consent of the government, the Assembly Secretariat and the court. In such a situation, it will be clear in the next few days whether the powerful MLA from Mokama will be able to enter the House or not. But it is certain that Anant Singh’s oath has once again become a matter of big controversy and debate in Bihar politics. In such a situation, the process of taking oath has now become a legal adventure – to complete which they will have to literally go through the fire.