Jailed ex-minister Madan Mitra is expecting thousands of electors in Kamarhati Assembly constituency to vote for him but Trinamool Congress candidate and jailed former minister Madan Mitra himself will not be able to cast his vote despite being a registered voter.
Election Commission sources confirmed that Mitra, who is presently lodged in Alipore jail in the multi-crore Saradha chitfund scam, will not be allowed to exercise his franchise.
The Representation of the People's Act, 1951, says, "No person shall vote at any election if he is confined in a prison whether under a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise or is in the lawful custody of the police".
However, rules allow prisoners to be a candidate till the time he or she is not convicted by a court of law.
This is the first time that a high-profile candidate is fighting elections in West Bengal from jail.
Arrested by the CBI in December 2014, the former state Transport and Sports minister is contesting polls from his constituency of Kamarhati on the outskirts of the city. His name figures in the electoral roll from booth number 14 in Dakshineswar.
Mitra's family members said he is disappointed with the fact that he was unable to present in his constituency during the crucial time of Assembly elections
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