Kanhaiya to contest in LS polls 2019

JNU students' union's  former President Kanhaiya Kumar has announced that he will contest in the 2019 elections from the Begusarai constituency in Bihar. He is a strong contender of Communist Party of India for Begusarai seat.

According to sources, Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Nationalist Congress Party, Loktantrik Janata Dal and Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular are likely to support Kanhaiya Kumar.

The Begusarai seat is currently held by the BJP's Bhola Singh. The saffron party won the seat for the first time in 2015.

Kanhaiya Kumar along with two others at JNU campus raised anti-BJP, anti-Modi slogan for which the student leader came under wrath of the central government.

On 12 February 2016, Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested by the Delhi police. A case was registered against him on 13 February, under Indian Penal Code Sections 124-A (sedition) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy).

He was charged over an event organised by some students at the Jawaharlal Nehru university campus against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, following complaints by Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Maheish Girri and the ABVP.