File photo of Yashwant Sinha
Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha was today released from jail in Jharkhand, the result of his agreeing to pay bail on Wednesday, a move he had resisted for several days.
Mr Sinha, 76, was arrested a fortnight ago for inciting a group of BJP workers to tie up an Electricity Board official to protest against a lengthy power crisis in the politician's former constituency of Hazaribagh.
After leaving prison, he is expected to travel to a nearby village to inaugurate an electricity project.
Mr Sinha was visited in jail by BJP veteran LK Advani. After their meeting, Mr Advani professed, "I have no doubt that Mr Sinha can lead the BJP in Jharkhand once he comes out of jail. "
That vote of confidence bolsters the theory circulating within the party - that Mr Sinha wanted to use his protest and subsequent arrest to pitch for a large role in regional politics.
Jharkhand is scheduled to vote for its next government within the next few months.
Both Mr Sinha and Mr Advani are seen as part of the old guard that was sidelined within the BJP by Narendra Modi and his A-team during the campaign for the recent national election which ended with a triumphant win for Mr Modi.
Mr Sinha, who has been union minister in the past, did not run for election this time; his son, Jayant , contested and won the parliamentary seat.