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Elections

Sharjeel Imam Withdraws from 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections Amidst Bail Delays and Restrictions as Political Prisoner

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Sharjeel Imam, a former student of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and political prisoner, has announced his decision to withdraw from the 2025 Bihar assembly elections due to bail delays and restrictions imposed on him as a political prisoner. Imam, who was seeking to contest the elections from the Bahadurganj constituency in Kishanganj district, cited the Delhi High Court's rejection of his bail application on September 2, 2025, and the subsequent denial of interim relief by the Supreme Court on September 9, 2025, as the main reasons for his decision. Despite being granted bail in other cases, Imam remains in pre-trial detention due to the Delhi riots conspiracy case, where the Delhi Police applied the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Key Takeaways:

  • Sharjeel Imam announced his withdrawal from the 2025 Bihar assembly elections on October 17, citing bail delays and restrictions as a political prisoner.
  • Imam's bail application was rejected by the Delhi High Court on September 2, 2025, and the Supreme Court denied interim relief on September 9, 2025.
  • Imam remains in pre-trial detention due to the Delhi riots conspiracy case, despite being granted bail in other cases.
  • Imam is a native of Kako village in Jehanabad, Bihar, and has been in Tihar Jail since January 2020, spending over five years in custody.
  • Imam's decision to withdraw from the elections is attributed to the "extreme restrictions" he faces as a political prisoner in communicating with the outside world, hindering his campaign process.
  • Imam's "new democratic message" emphasizes "structural changes" for the marginalized sections, including decentralization, proportional representation, and minority reservations.
  • Imam expressed gratitude to his team, the people of Bahadurganj, and supporters across the country who stood in solidarity with him.

Statistics:

  • September 2, 2025: Delhi High Court rejects Sharjeel Imam's bail application.
  • September 9, 2025: Supreme Court denies interim relief to Sharjeel Imam.
  • Over 5 years: Sharjeel Imam's imprisonment in Tihar Jail since January 2020.
  • 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections: Sharjeel Imam's decision to withdraw from the elections.

Sources:

  • Siasat Daily: Sharjeel Imam's statement announcing withdrawal from 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections (October 17)
  • Delhi High Court: September 2, 2025, bail application rejection
  • Supreme Court: September 9, 2025, denial of interim relief
  • HT Digital Content Services: Published with permission from Siasat Daily

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