Rashtriya Janata Dal member of Parliament from Siwan Mohammed Shahabuddin was shifted to the Beur Central jail in Patna early on Friday morning following an Election Commission directive.

The EC had on Thursday directed the Bihar government to shift Shahabuddin from Siwan, where assembly elections are scheduled for Feb 23.

Shahabuddin is in jail in connection with the abduction and murder of a Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) activist.

• Shift Shahabuddin from Siwan Jail: EC

The EC was apprehensive that the presence of Shahabuddin, facing several criminal charges, in Siwan might vitiate the poll process. It could hamper the conduct of free and fair elections on February 15 and 23, EC sources said.

Siwan is considered a Shahabuddin stronghold, and the opposition had complained to the EC that he might influence voters.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United) and the CPI (ML) hailed the EC decision. However, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said it amounted to interfering in a judicial matter.

With PTI inputs