Sharjeel Imam, a jailed activist and research scholar from Jawaharlal Nehru University, has announced that he will not contest the Bihar Assembly elections in 2025 as an independent candidate from the Bahadurganj constituency. The decision comes in light of the Delhi High Court’s rejection of his bail plea on September 2, 2025, and the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant interim relief following his appeal on September 9. Imam indicated that the matter has been postponed until late October, which hindered his expectations of being released on bail in time for the elections.
In a statement released from prison, Imam characterized himself and his team as “not traditional politicians” but as advocates for a new democratic message that emphasizes necessary structural changes for marginalized communities. He articulated that this message is often overlooked in mainstream political discourse. “As one of the handful of representatives of this new emerging class of political actors, it is my duty to reach the masses and articulate our democratic message in simplest possible terms. However, the state has put hurdles on our path,” Imam explained, citing his inability to campaign or engage with constituents freely due to his incarceration.
Imam noted that the restrictions he faces as a political prisoner limited his team’s ability to prepare adequately for the elections. “With extreme restrictions which a political prisoner like me faces, especially in communicating with the outside world, one month was simply not enough — we needed more time,” he said.
Despite withdrawing from the elections, Imam emphasized that their mission would continue. He reiterated their commitment to advocating for structural changes, including decentralization, proportional representation in elections, reservation for minorities across caste groups, and religious autonomy. “We will keep working towards that end and aim to force those who seek our votes to address these fundamental issues,” he stated.
Imam expressed gratitude to his team and supporters, acknowledging their hard work over the past few months. “I am thankful to our team who worked tirelessly over the last two to three months. I am also thankful to the thousands of people in Bahadurganj who engaged with us and expressed support and sympathy. I’ll be among them as soon as I am released,” he said.
He also thanked the “lakhs of people across India who sent messages of support, solidarity, and love,” adding that their message about structural change has gained traction across communities. He called this a “significant achievement,” asserting that their efforts have not been in vain and that the lessons learned will be valuable for future actions and upcoming elections.
Imam was arrested in January 2020 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and sedition charges for his involvement in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The 35-year-old activist from Kako village in Jehanabad, Bihar, has been incarcerated since he surrendered to the Delhi Police on January 28, 2020. While he has secured bail in six cases, he remains in custody under the Delhi violence conspiracy case, which has been pending for over two years in the Delhi High Court.
International rights experts have repeatedly called for Imam’s release, suggesting that his detention, along with that of other anti-CAA protesters, serves as a warning against dissenting criticism of government policies.
The article originally appeared on Maktoob Media.
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